< Hosea 13 >

1 When Ephraim spake, there was trembling: hee exalted him selfe in Israel, but he hath sinned in Baal, and is dead.
When Ephraim spoke, there was trembling. He exalted himself in Israel, but when he became guilty through Baal, he died.
2 And nowe they sinne more and more, and haue made them molten images of their siluer, and idoles according to their owne vnderstanding: they were all the woorke of the craftesmen: they say one to another whiles they sacrifice a man, Let them kisse the calues.
Now they sin more and more, and have made themselves molten images of their silver, even idols according to their own understanding, all of them the work of the craftsmen. They say of them, ‘They offer human sacrifice and kiss the calves.’
3 Therefore they shall bee as the morning cloude, and as the morning dewe that passeth away, as the chaffe that is driuen with a whirlewind out of the floore, and as the smoke that goeth out of the chimney.
Therefore they will be like the morning mist, like the dew that passes away early, like the chaff that is driven with the whirlwind out of the threshing floor, and like the smoke out of the chimney.
4 Yet I am the Lord thy God from the land of Egypt, and thou shalt knowe no God but me: for there is no Sauiour beside me.
“Yet I am the LORD your God from the land of Egypt; and you shall acknowledge no god but me, and besides me there is no savior.
5 I did knowe thee in the wildernesse, in the land of drought.
I knew you in the wilderness, in the land of great drought.
6 As in their pastures, so were they filled: they were filled, and their heart was exalted: therefore haue they forgotten me.
According to their pasture, so were they filled; they were filled, and their heart was exalted. Therefore they have forgotten me.
7 And I wil be vnto them as a very lyon, and as a leopard in the way of Asshur.
Therefore I am like a lion to them. Like a leopard, I will lurk by the path.
8 I will meete them, as a beare that is robbed of her whelpes, and I will breake the kall of their heart, and there will I deuoure them like a lion: the wilde beast shall teare them.
I will meet them like a bear that is bereaved of her cubs, and will tear the covering of their heart. There I will devour them like a lioness. The wild animal will tear them.
9 O Israel, one hath destroyed thee, but in me is thine helpe.
You are destroyed, Israel, because you are against me, against your helper.
10 I am: where is thy King, that shoulde help thee in al thy cities? and thy iudges, of whom thou saidest, Giue me a King, and princes?
Where is your king now, that he may save you in all your cities? And your judges, of whom you said, ‘Give me a king and princes’?
11 I gaue thee a King in mine anger, and I tooke him away in my wrath.
I have given you a king in my anger, and have taken him away in my wrath.
12 The iniquitie of Ephraim is bound vp: his sinne is hid.
The guilt of Ephraim is stored up. His sin is stored up.
13 The sorowes of a trauailing woman shall come vpon him: he is an vnwise sonne, els would he not stande still at the time, euen at the breaking forth of the children.
The sorrows of a travailing woman will come on him. He is an unwise son, for when it is time, he does not come to the opening of the womb.
14 I wil redeeme them from the power of the graue: I will deliuer them from death: O death, I wil be thy death: O graue, I will be thy destruction: repentance is hid from mine eyes. (Sheol h7585)
I will ransom them from the power of Sheol (Sheol h7585). I will redeem them from death! Death, where are your plagues? Sheol (Sheol h7585), where is your destruction? "Compassion will be hidden from my eyes.
15 Though he grewe vp among his brethren, an East winde shall come, euen the winde of the Lord shall come vp from the wildernesse, and drie vp his veine, and his fountaine shalbe dryed vp: he shall spoyle the treasure of all pleasant vessels.
Though he is fruitful among his brothers, an east wind will come, the breath of the LORD coming up from the wilderness; and his spring will become dry, and his fountain will be dried up. He will plunder the storehouse of treasure.
16 Samaria shalbe desolate: for she hath rebelled against her God: they shall fall by the sworde: their infants shalbe dashed in pieces, and their women with childe shalbe ript.
Samaria will bear her guilt, for she has rebelled against her God. They will fall by the sword. Their infants will be dashed in pieces, and their pregnant women will be ripped open.”

< Hosea 13 >