Hosea 13
1 Once when Ephraim spake, there was trembling; he was exalted in Israel; But he offended through Baal, and died.
When Ephraim spoke, they were feared, for they were the leading tribe in Israel. But when they were guilty of Baal worship, they died.
2 And now they sin more and more, And have made to themselves molten images; Of their silver by their skill have they made idols; All of it is the work of artificers. They say concerning them, Whoever will sacrifice, let him kiss the calves!
Now they constantly sin, making for themselves idols from molten metal. All of these idols are skillfully made from silver by their craftsmen. “Offer sacrifices to these idols,” say the people. “Kiss the bull calf idols.”
3 Therefore shall they be as the morning cloud, And as the early dew, which passeth away; As chaff driven with a whirlwind from the thrashing-floor, And as smoke from the chimney.
Consequently they will be like the morning mist, like early morning dew, like chaff blowing away from the threshing floor, like smoke from a chimney.
4 Yet I, Jehovah, have been thy God from the land of Egypt, And thou hast known no God but me; Yea, there was no saviour besides me.
Yet I am the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt. You shall know no other gods but me. None can save you except me.
5 I cared for thee in the desert, In the land of great drought.
I looked after you in the wilderness; in that dry desert land it was like pasture to them
6 As they were fed, so they were filled; They were filled, and their heart was lifted up; Therefore they forgot me.
and they were satisfied. But when they were satisfied they became arrogant, and they forgot me.
7 Therefore have I become to them as a lion; As a leopard I watch for them in the way;
So I will be like a lion to them, like a leopard I will lie in wait beside the path.
8 I will meet them as a bear bereaved of her whelps, And I will rend the caul of their heart, And there will I devour them as a lioness; The wild beast shall tear them.
I will be like a mother bear whose cubs have been taken, I will rip out their hearts. I shall devour them like a lion, like a wild beast I will tear them apart.
9 It hath been thy destruction, O Israel, That against me, against thy help, thou hast rebelled!
You have destroyed yourselves, Israel, for your only help is in me.
10 Where is now thy king? Let him save thee in all thy cities! And where thy judges, In regard to whom thou saidst, Give me a king and princes!
Where then is your king? Let him save you in all your cities! Where are your leaders who demanded a king and princes from me?
11 I gave thee a king in mine anger, And I have taken him away in my wrath;
In my anger I give you a king, and in my fury I take one.
12 the iniquity of Ephraim is treasured up; His guilt is laid up in store.
Ephraim's guilt is packed up; their sin will be eradicated.
13 The pangs of a travailing woman shall come upon him; He is an unwise son, For else would he not tarry long in the place of the breaking forth of children.
The pain of childbirth has come to them, trying to give birth to a son who is not “wise” because he is not in the right position when the time comes.
14 I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death; O death, where is thy plague? O grave, where is thy destruction? Repentance is hidden from mine eyes. (Sheol h7585)
I shall redeem them from the power of Sheol; I shall deliver them from death. Where, death, are your plagues? Where, Sheol, is your destruction? Compassion is hidden from my sight. (Sheol h7585)
15 Though he be fruitful among his brethren, An east wind shall come, A wind of Jehovah shall come up from the desert, And his spring shall become dry, And his fountain shall be dried up, And the treasure of all his pleasant vessels shall be spoiled.
Even though they flourish among the reeds, an east wind will come, a wind from the Lord that rises in the desert will dry up their springs and their wells will fail. It will rob from their treasury everything of value.
16 Samaria shall suffer for her guilt, For she hath rebelled against her God. They shall fall by the sword; Their infants shall be dashed in pieces, And their women with child shall be ripped up.
Samaria will have to bear the consequences of their guilt, because they rebelled against her God. They will be slaughtered by the sword; their children will be dashed to the ground; their pregnant women will be ripped open.
