Hosea 13
1 [Previously], when [the leaders of] Israel spoke, the people trembled; those leaders were highly respected by the Israeli people. But the people sinned greatly by [worshiping] Baal, so now they will be killed [by their enemies].
When Ephraim, spake, there was terror, exalted was, he, in Israel, —but, when he became guilty with Baal, then he died.
2 Now they sin more and more; they make idols for themselves [and coat the idols] with their silver. Those idols are statues that are very cleverly made, but those statues are made by [mere] humans. But [the people are told], “Kiss those idols [that resemble a] calf, and offer sacrifices to them!”
Now, therefore they go on to sin, and have made them a Molten Thing out of their silver, after the notion of idols, the workmanship of craftsmen, all of it! Of them, are they saying—Ye sacrificers of men! The Great Calf, shall ye surely kiss!
3 Therefore, those people will [disappear quickly] like [SIM] the morning mist or the dew that lies [on the ground] early [in the morning]; [they will disappear] like [SIM] chaff that is blown away from where [the wheat] is threshed, like [SIM] smoke that goes out of a chimney.
Therefore, shall they become like the morning cloud, and like the dew early departing, —like chaff storm-driven out of the threshing-floor, and like smoke out of a chimney.
4 But [Yahweh says to his people], “I am Yahweh, your God, [the one who brought your ancestors] out of Egypt. You must believe that only I am God and that there is no other God, and that there is no one else who can save you!
Yet, I, Yahweh, have been thy God from the land of Egypt, —and, god beside me, shalt thou not acknowledge, for, saviour, is there none besides me.
5 I took care of your [ancestors when they were] in the desert, where it was extremely [hot and] dry.
I, tended thee in the desert, —in a land parched with drought:
6 When I provided food for them, their [stomachs] were full, and they were satisfied. But then they became proud and they forgot [about] me, [and you are like your ancestors]!
Whenever they were pastured, then were they satisfied, They were satisfied, and their heart, was lifted up, —because of this, they forgat me.
7 So I will attack you like [SIM] a lion [attacks other animals]; I will be like [SIM] a leopard that waits beside the road [to attack another animal].
Therefore am I become to them as a lion, —As a leopard by the way, do I watch.
8 Like [SIM] a female bear attacks anyone that steals her cubs, I will attack you Israelis and rip you open. I will completely destroy you like [SIM] lions or [other] wild animals tear apart the animals that they catch and devour them.
I will fall upon them as a bear bereaved, and will read asunder the enclosure of their heart, —that I may devour them there, like a lioness, the wild beast of the field, shall tear them in pieces.
9 [You people of] Israel, you will be destroyed because you oppose me, the only one who (can help/helps) you.
It hath utterly destroyed thee, O Israel, for it was against me, as thy helper!
10 You have a king; (why is he [unable to save you]?/but he is [unable to save you].) [RHQ] You have [RHQ] rulers in all your towns, but they are not helping you, [either]. Your [ancestors] said, ‘Appoint for us a king and [other] leaders [to rule over us] [like the other nations have]!’
Where is thy king, then, that he may save thee throughout all thy cities? and thy judges, concerning whom thou saidst, Oh give me a king and rulers?
11 I was angry with them [for requesting that], but I appointed a king [to rule over] them. But [later] I became very angry with them [again], so I took their king away.
I might give thee a king in mine anger, and take him away in my wrath.
12 [I have written on a scroll] a record of the sins that have been committed by you people of Israel, and I have stored away that record.
Bound up, is the iniquity of Ephraim, stored away, his sin.
13 You people are not wise; and now [you are helpless]. You are like [MET] a woman who is having birth pains but who is unable to give birth to the baby.
The pangs of a woman in labour, shall overtake him, —he, is a son, not wise, for, now, he cannot stand still, when children are about to be born.
14 I certainly will not [RHQ] save you from being killed and from going to the place where the dead people are. I will [RHQ] cause you to be afflicted by plagues and to die and be buried in graves. I will not be merciful [to you]. (Sheol h7585)
Out of the hand of hades, will I ransom them, out of death, will I redeem them, —Where is thy pestilence, O death? Where thy plague, O hades? Repentance, shall be hid from mine eyes. (Sheol h7585)
15 Even if you people of Israel prosper more than the nearby nations do, [the army of Assyria] will come [like] [MET] an east wind that blows from the desert; the springs and wells in Israel will become dry; and [your enemies] will take away all your valuable possessions.
Though, he, among brethren, be fruitful, there shall come in an east wind, the blast of Yahweh out of the desert coming up, that his spring, may dry up, and his fountain, be exhausted, he, will rob the treasure-house of all the vessels of delight.
16 [You people of] Samaria must be punished because you have rebelled against [me], your God. You will be killed by [your enemies’] swords; your little children will be [killed by being] dashed/thrown to the ground; the [bellies of] women [among you] will be ripped open.”
Samaria, shall be held guilty, for she hath rebelled against her God, By the sword, shall they fall, their infants, shall be dashed to the ground, and, his women with child, shall be ripped up.
