Hosea 13

1 When Ephraim spoke trembling, he exalted himself in Israel; but when he offended in Baal, he died.

According to the word of Ephraim he adopted ordinances for himself in Israel; and he established them for Baal, and died.

2 And now they sin more and more, and have made them molten images of their silver, and idols according to their own understanding, all of it the work of the craftsmen: they say of them, Let the men that sacrifice kiss the calves.

And now they have sinned increasingly, and have made for themselves a molten image of their silver, according to the fashion of idols, the work of artificers accomplished for them: they say, Sacrifice men, for the calves have come to an end.

3 Therefore they shall be as the morning cloud and as the early dew that passes away, as the chaff that is driven with the whirlwind out of the floor, and as the smoke out of the chimney.

Therefore shall they be as a morning cloud, and as the early dew that passes away, as chaff blown away from the threshing-floor, and as a vapor from tears.

4 Yet I am the LORD your God from the land of Egypt, and you shall know no god but me: for there is no saviour beside me.

But I am the Lord thy God that establishes the heaven, and creates the earth, whose hands have framed the whole host of heaven: but I shewed them not to thee that thou shouldest go after them: and I brought thee up out of the land of Egypt, and thou shalt know no God but me; and there is no Saviour beside me.

5 I did know you in the wilderness, in the land of great drought.

I tended thee as a shepherd in the wilderness, in an uninhabited land.

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

According to their pastures, so they were completely filled; and their hearts were exalted; therefore they forgot me.

7 Therefore I will be unto them as a lion: as a leopard by the way will I observe them:

And I will be to them as a panther, and as a leopard.

8 I will meet them as a bear that is bereaved of her whelps, and will rend the lobe of their heart, and there will I devour them like a lion: the wild beast shall tear them.

I will meet them by the way of the Assyrians, as a she-bear excited, and I will rend the caul of their heart, and the lions' whelps of the thicket shall devour them there; the wild beasts of the field shall rend them in pieces.

9 O Israel, you have destroyed yourself; but in me is your help.

O Israel, who will aid [thee] in thy destruction?

10 I will be your king: where is any other that may save you in all your cities? and your judges of whom you said, Give me a king and princes?

Where is this thy king? let him even save thee in all thy cities: let him judge thee, of whom thou saidst, Give me a king and a prince.

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

And I gave thee a king in mine anger, and kept [him] back in my wrath.

12 The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up; his sin is hid.

Ephraim [has framed] a conspiracy of unrighteousness, his sin is hidden.

13 The sorrows of a travailing woman shall come upon him: he is an unwise son; for he should not stay long in the place of the breaking out of children.

Pains as of a woman in travail shall come upon him: he is thy wise son, because he shall not stay in the destruction of [thy] children.

14 I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be your plagues; O grave, I will be your destruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes. (Sheol h7585)

I will deliver [them] out of the power of Hades, and will redeem them from death: where is thy penalty, O death? O Hades, where is thy sting? comfort is hidden from mine eyes. (Sheol h7585)

15 Though he be fruitful among his brethren, an east wind shall come, the wind of the LORD shall come up from the wilderness, and his spring shall become dry, and his fountain shall be dried up: he shall spoil the treasure of all pleasant vessels.

Forasmuch as he will cause a division among [his] brethren, the Lord shall bring upon him an east wind from the desert, and shall dry up his veins [and] quite drain his fountains: he shall dry up his land, and [spoil] all his precious vessels.

16 Samaria shall become desolate; for she has 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.

Samaria shall be utterly destroyed: for she has resisted her God; they shall fall by the sword, and their sucklings shall be dashed against the ground, and their women with child ripped up.