Hosea 13

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

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

2 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.’

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 they will be like the morning mist, 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.

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 Yahweh your God from the land of Egypt; and you shall acknowledge no god but me, and besides me there is no savior.

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 knew you in the wilderness, in the land of great drought.

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

6 According to their pasture, so were they filled; they were filled, and their heart was exalted. Therefore they have 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 Therefore I am like a lion to them. Like a leopard, I will lurk by the path.

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

8 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.

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

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

10 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’?

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

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

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

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

13 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.

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 I will ransom them from the power of Sheol. I will redeem them from death! Death, where are your plagues? Sheol, where is your destruction? “Compassion will 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 is fruitful among his brothers, an east wind will come, the breath of Yahweh 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.

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 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.”

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.