< Hosea 13 >
1 For Effraym spak, hidousnesse assailide Israel; and he trespasside in Baal, and was deed.
When Ephraim spoke, there was trembling. He exalted himself in Israel, but when he became guilty through Baal, he died.
2 And now thei addiden to do synne, and maden to hem a yotun ymage of her siluer, as the licnesse of idols; al is the makyng of crafti men. To these thei seien, A! ye men, offre, and worschipe caluys.
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 Therfor thei schulen be as a morewtid cloude, and as the deew of morewtid, that passith forth, as dust rauyschide bi whirlewynd fro the corn floor, and as smoke of a chymenei.
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.
4 Forsothe Y am thi Lord God, `that ledde thee fro the loond of Egipt; and thou schalt not knowe God, outakun me, and no sauyour is, outakun me.
“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 Y knewe thee in the desert, in the lond of wildirnesse.
I knew you in the wilderness, in the land of great drought.
6 Bi her lesewis thei weren fillid, and hadden abundaunce; thei reisiden her herte, and foryaten me.
According to their pasture, so were they filled; they were filled, and their heart was exalted. Therefore they have forgotten me.
7 And Y schal be as a lionesse to hem, as a parde in the weye of Assiriens.
Therefore I am like a lion to them. Like a leopard, I will lurk by the path.
8 Y as a femal bere, whanne the whelps ben rauyschid, schal mete hem; and schal al to-breke the ynnere thingis of the mawe of hem. And Y as a lioun schal waaste hem there; a beeste of the feeld schal al to-rende hem.
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 Israel, thi perdicioun is of thee; thin help is oneli of me.
You are destroyed, Israel, because you are against me, against your helper.
10 Where is thi kyng? moost saue he thee now in alle thi citees; and where ben thi iugis, of whiche thou seidist, Yyue thou to me a kyng, 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 Y schal yyue to thee a kyng in my strong veniaunce, and Y schal take awei in myn indignacioun.
I have given you a king in my anger, and have taken him away in my wrath.
12 The wickidnesse of Effraym is boundun togidere; his synne is hid.
The guilt of Ephraim is stored up. His sin is stored up.
13 The sorewis of a womman trauelynge of child schulen come to hym; he is a sone not wijs. For now he schal not stonde in the defoulyng of sones.
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 Y schal delyuere hem fro the hoond of deeth, and Y schal ayenbie hem fro deth. Thou deth, Y schal be thi deth; thou helle, Y schal be thi mussel. (Sheol )
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 )
15 Coumfort is hid fro myn iyen, for he schal departe bitwixe britheren. The Lord schal brynge a brennynge wynd, stiynge fro desert; and it schal make drie the veynes therof, and it schal make desolat the welle therof; and he schal rauysche the tresour of ech desirable vessel.
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 Samarie perische, for it stiride his God to bittirnesse; perische it bi swerd. The litle children of hem be hurtlid doun, and the wymmen with child therof be koruun.
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.”