הושע 13

1 כדבר אפרים רתת נשא הוא בישראל ויאשם בבעל וימת

Once when Ephraim spake, there was trembling; he was exalted in Israel; But he offended through Baal, and died.

2 ועתה יוספו לחטא ויעשו להם מסכה מכספם כתבונם עצבים מעשה חרשים כלה להם הם אמרים זבחי אדם עגלים ישקון

And now they sin more and more, And have made to themselves molten images; Of their silver by their skill have they made idols; All of it is the work of artificers. They say concerning them, Whoever will sacrifice, let him kiss the calves!

3 לכן יהיו כענן בקר וכטל משכים הלך כמץ יסער מגרן וכעשן מארבה

Therefore shall they be as the morning cloud, And as the early dew, which passeth away; As chaff driven with a whirlwind from the thrashing-floor, And as smoke from the chimney.

4 ואנכי יהוה אלהיך מארץ מצרים ואלהים זולתי לא תדע ומושיע אין בלתי

Yet I, Jehovah, have been thy God from the land of Egypt, And thou hast known no God but me; Yea, there was no saviour besides me.

5 אני ידעתיך במדבר--בארץ תלאבות

I cared for thee in the desert, In the land of great drought.

6 כמרעיתם וישבעו--שבעו וירם לבם על כן שכחוני

As they were fed, so they were filled; They were filled, and their heart was lifted up; Therefore they forgot me.

7 ואהי להם כמו שחל--כנמר על דרך אשור

Therefore have I become to them as a lion; As a leopard I watch for them in the way;

8 אפגשם כדב שכול ואקרע סגור לבם ואכלם שם כלביא חית השדה תבקעם

I will meet them as a bear bereaved of her whelps, And I will rend the caul of their heart, And there will I devour them as a lioness; The wild beast shall tear them.

9 שחתך ישראל כי בי בעזרך

It hath been thy destruction, O Israel, That against me, against thy help, thou hast rebelled!

10 אהי מלכך אפוא ויושיעך בכל עריך ושפטיך--אשר אמרת תנה לי מלך ושרים

Where is now thy king? Let him save thee in all thy cities! And where thy judges, In regard to whom thou saidst, Give me a king and princes!

11 אתן לך מלך באפי ואקח בעברתי

I gave thee a king in mine anger, And I have taken him away in my wrath;

12 צרור עון אפרים צפונה חטאתו

the iniquity of Ephraim is treasured up; His guilt is laid up in store.

13 חבלי יולדה יבאו לו הוא בן לא חכם כי עת לא יעמד במשבר בנים

The pangs of a travailing woman shall come upon him; He is an unwise son, For else would he not tarry long in the place of the breaking forth of children.

14 מיד שאול אפדם ממות אגאלם אהי דבריך מות אהי קטבך שאול--נחם יסתר מעיני (Sheol h7585)

I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death; O death, where is thy plague? O grave, where is thy destruction? Repentance is hidden from mine eyes. (Sheol h7585)

15 כי הוא בין אחים יפריא יבוא קדים רוח יהוה ממדבר עלה ויבוש מקורו ויחרב מעינו--הוא ישסה אוצר כל כלי חמדה

Though he be fruitful among his brethren, An east wind shall come, A wind of Jehovah shall come up from the desert, And his spring shall become dry, And his fountain shall be dried up, And the treasure of all his pleasant vessels shall be spoiled.

16 תאשם שמרון כי מרתה באלהיה בחרב יפלו--עלליהם ירטשו והריותיו יבקעו

Samaria shall suffer for her guilt, 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.