Hosea 13

1 “When Ephraim spoke, there was trembling. He exalted himself in Israel, but he became guilty because of Baal worship, and he died.

When Ephraim spoke, there was trembling. He exalted himself in Israel, but when he became guilty in Baal, he died.

2 Now they sin more and more. They make cast metal figures from their silver, idols as skillfully worked as possible, all of them the work of the craftsmen. People say of them, 'These men who sacrifice kiss calves.'

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 So they will be like the morning clouds, like the dew that goes away early, like the chaff that is driven by the wind away from a threshing floor, and like smoke out of a chimney.

Therefore they will be like the morning mist, and 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 But I am Yahweh your God from the land of Egypt. You must acknowledge no God but me; you must acknowledge that besides me, there is no other savior.

"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 knew you in the wilderness, in the land of great dryness.

I fed you in the wilderness, in the land of great drought.

6 When you had pasture, then you became full; and when you were filled, your heart became lifted up. For that reason you forgot me.

According to their pasture, so were they filled; they were filled, and their heart was exalted. Therefore they have forgotten me.

7 I will become like a lion to them; like a leopard I will watch along the path.

Therefore I am like a lion to them. Like a leopard, I will lurk by the path.

8 I will attack them as a bear that is robbed of her cubs. I will rip open their chests, and there I will devour them as a lion, as a wild beast would tear them to pieces.

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 I will destroy you, Israel; who will be able to help you?

You are destroyed, Israel, because you are against me, against your help.

10 Where now is your king, that he may save you in all your cities? Where are your rulers, about whom you said to me, 'Give 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 gave you a king in my anger, and I took him away in my wrath.

I have given you a king in my anger, and have taken him away in my wrath.

12 Ephraim's iniquity has been stored up; his guilt has been stored up.

The guilt of Ephraim is stored up. His sin is stored up.

13 Pains of childbirth will come on him, but he is an unwise son, for when it is time to be born, he does not come out of the womb.

The sorrows of a travailing woman will come on him. He is an unwise son; for when it is time, he doesn't come to the opening of the womb.

14 Will I rescue them from the hand of Sheol? Will I rescue them from death? Where, death, are your plagues? Where, Sheol, is your destruction? Compassion is hidden from my eyes.” (Sheol h7585)

I will ransom them from the power of Sheol. I will redeem them from death. Death, where is your victory? Sheol, where is your sting? "Compassion will be hidden from my eyes. (Sheol h7585)

15 Though Ephraim is prosperous among his brothers, an east wind will come; the wind of Yahweh will blow in from the wilderness. Ephraim's spring will dry up, and his well will have no water. His enemy will plunder his storehouse of every precious object.

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 will be guilty, for she has rebelled against her God. They will fall by the sword; their young children will be dashed to pieces, and their pregnant women will be ripped open.

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."