Hosea 13
1 When Ephraim used to speak there was trembling; a prince was he in Israel. But he incurred guilt through Baal and died.
WHEN Ephraim spake trembling, he exalted himself in Israel; but when he offended in Baal, he died.
2 And now they go on sinning. They make for themselves molten gods – idols of silver, skilfully made, wholly the work of smiths. Yet to such they sacrifice! And they who sacrifice kiss calf idols!
And now they sin more and more, and have made them molten images of their silver, and idols according to their own understanding, all of it the work of the craftsmen: they say of them, Let the men that sacrifice kiss the calves.
3 Therefore they shall be like the morning mist, like the dew that early disappears, like the chaff which blows away from the threshing floor, like the smoke from the window.
Therefore they shall be as the morning cloud, and as the early dew that passeth away, as the chaff that is driven with the whirlwind out of the floor, and as the smoke out of the chimney.
4 Yet it was I, the Lord your God, ever since the land of Egypt, you know no other god but me, nor has there been any saviour except me.
Yet I am the Lord thy God from the land of Egypt, and thou shalt know no god but me: for there is no saviour beside me.
5 It was I who shepherded you in the wilderness, in the land of burning heat.
I did know thee in the wilderness, in the land of great drought.
6 When they were pastured they became full, when they were full their hearts became proud. Therefore they forgot me!
According to their pasture, so were they filled; they were filled, and their heart was exalted; therefore have they forgotten me.
7 So now I will be to them like a lion, like a leopard will I lay in wait by the path.
Therefore I will be unto them as a lion: as a leopard by the way will I observe them:
8 I will fall upon them like a bear robbed of her cubs, I will tear open their chests, like a lion will devour them, and like a wild beast will tear them in pieces.
I will meet them as a bear that is bereaved of her whelps, and will rend the caul of their heart, and there will I devour them like a lion: the wild beast shall tear them.
9 You are destroyed, Israel, by me, your only helper.
O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; but in me is thine help.
10 I want to rule you! Where are your princes in your cities, those of whom you demanded, ‘Give me kings and princes.’
I will be thy king: where is any other that may save thee in all thy cities? and thy judges of whom thou saidst, Give me a king and princes?
11 I give you kings in my anger, and take them away in my wrath.
I gave thee a king in mine anger, and took him away in my wrath.
12 Ephrahn’s iniquity is gathered up, his sin is laid by in store.
The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up; his sin is hid.
13 The pangs of childbirth come upon him, but he is an unwise child. For this is no time to refuse to leave the womb!
The sorrows of a travailing woman shall come upon him: he is an unwise son; for he should not stay long in the place of the breaking forth of children.
14 Should I deliver them from the power of Sheol? Should I redeem them from death? Death, where are your plagues? Sheol, where is your pestilence? Compassion is forever hidden from my eyes. (Sheol h7585)
I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes. (Sheol h7585)
15 Though he is flourishing among his brothers, there will come an east wind, the Lord’s wind, coming up from the wilderness. His fountain will dry up, his spring shall be parched. The wind will strip the treasury, all the precious things.
Though he be fruitful among his brethren, an east wind shall come, the wind of the Lord shall come up from the wilderness, and his spring shall become dry, and his fountain shall be dried up: he shall spoil the treasure of all pleasant vessels.
16 Samaria will bear her guilt, for she has rebelled against her God. They will fall by the sword, their children dashed to pieces, their pregnant women ripped open.
Samaria shall become desolate; 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.
