Hosea 13

1 When once Ephraim spoke, [all] trembled, so high was he exalted in Israel; but he offended through Ba'al, and he died.

While Ephraim was speaking, a horror entered Israel, and he offended by Baal, and he died.

2 And now they yet continue to sin, and have made themselves molten images of their silver, idols according to their own imagining, every one of them the work of the artisan: they say to them, They that sacrifice men may kiss the calves.

And now they add that they will be sinning more. And they have made themselves an image cast from their silver, just like the image of idols; but the whole thing has been made by craftsmen. These say to them, “Sacrifice men, you who adore calves.”

3 Therefore shall they be as the morning cloud, and as the dew that early passeth away, as the chaff that is driven by the whirlwind out of the threshing-floor, and as smoke out of a window.

For this reason, they will be like the morning clouds, and like the morning dew that passes away, just like the dust that is driven by a whirlwind away from the threshing floor, and like the smoke from a chimney.

4 Yet I am the Lord thy God from the land of Egypt: and no god but me shalt thou know, and there is no saviour beside me.

But I am the Lord your God from the land of Egypt, and you will not know God apart from me, and there is no Savior except me.

5 I myself did provide for thee in the wilderness, in the land of great drought.

I knew you in the desert, in the land of solitude.

6 When they came to their pasture, they became sated; they were sated, and their heart was lifted up: therefore have they forgotten me.

According to their pastures, they have been filled up and have been satisfied. And they have lifted up their heart, and they have forgotten me.

7 And now I will be unto them as a lion: as a leopard will I lie in wait by the way.

And I will be to them like a lioness, like a leopard in the way of the Assyrians.

8 I will meet them as a bear bereaved of her whelps, and I will rend their closed-up heart; and I will devour them there like a lioness, the beasts of the field shall rend them.

I will run to meet them like a bear that has been robbed of her young, and I will split open the middle of their liver. And I will devour them there like a lion; the beast of the field will tear them apart.

9 Thou hast destroyed thyself, O Israel; for against me, against thy helper [didst thou rebel.]

Perdition is yours, Israel. Your help is only in me.

10 Where then is now thy king, that he may save thee in all thy cities? and thy judges, since thou saidst, Give me a king, and princes?

Where is your king? Now, especially, let him save you in all your cities, and from your judges, about whom you said, “Give me kings and princes.”

11 I give thee a king in my anger, and take him away in my wrath.

I will give you a king in my wrath, and I will take him away in my indignation.

12 Bound up is the iniquity of Ephraim, treasured up is his sin.

The iniquity of Ephraim has been bound; his sin has been engulfed.

13 The pains of a travailing woman shall come upon him; he is an unwise son; for he will not remain steadfast at the time of the breaking forth of the child.

The pains of giving birth will reach him. He is an unwise son. For now he will not remain firm during the contrition of his sons.

14 From the power of the grave would I ransom them, from death would I redeem them; [but now] where are thy plagues, O death, where is thy pestilence, O grave? compassion shall be hidden from my eyes. (Sheol h7585)

I will free them from the hand of death; from death I will redeem them. Death, I will be your death. Hell, I will be your deadly wound. Consolation is hidden from my eyes. (Sheol h7585)

15 Though he grow luxuriantly in the green meadows, the east wind shall come, the wind of the Lord, rising up from the wilderness, and his spring shall become dry, and his fountain shall be dried up: the same shall plunder the treasure of all precious vessels.

For he will make a division among brothers. The Lord will bring a burning wind, rising up from the desert, and it will dry up his streams, and it will make his fountain desolate, and he will tear apart every collection of desirable useful things.

16 Samaria shall meet her punishment; for she hath rebelled against her God: by the sword shall they fall; their infants shall be dashed in pieces, and their pregnant women shall be ripped up.

Let Samaria perish, because she has urged her God towards bitterness. Let them perish by the sword, let their little ones be thrown down, and let their pregnant women be cut in two.