הושע 13

1 כדבר אפרים רתת נשא הוא בישראל ויאשם בבעל וימת

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

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

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.'

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

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.

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

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.

5 אני ידעתיך במדבר--בארץ תלאבות

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

6 כמרעיתם וישבעו--שבעו וירם לבם על כן שכחוני

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

7 ואהי להם כמו שחל--כנמר על דרך אשור

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

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

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.

9 שחתך ישראל כי בי בעזרך

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

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

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'?

11 אתן לך מלך באפי ואקח בעברתי

I gave you a king in my anger, and I took him away in my wrath.

12 צרור עון אפרים צפונה חטאתו

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

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

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.

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

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)

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

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.

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

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.