Hosea 13

1 When Ephraim used to speak there was trembling; a prince was he in Israel. But he incurred guilt through Baal and died.

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

2 And now they go on sinning. They make for themselves molten gods – idols of silver, skilfully made, wholly the work of smiths. Yet to such they sacrifice! And they who sacrifice kiss calf idols!

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 Therefore they shall be like the morning mist, like the dew that early disappears, like the chaff which blows away from the threshing floor, like the smoke from the window.

Therefore they will be like the morning mist, and 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 Yet it was I, the Lord your God, ever since the land of Egypt, you know no other god but me, nor has there been any saviour except me.

"Yet I am Jehovah your God from the land of Egypt; and you shall acknowledge no god but me, and besides me there is no savior.

5 It was I who shepherded you in the wilderness, in the land of burning heat.

I fed you in the wilderness, in the land of great drought.

6 When they were pastured they became full, when they were full their hearts became proud. Therefore they forgot me!

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

7 So now I will be to them like a lion, like a leopard will I lay in wait by the path.

Therefore I am like a lion to them. Like a leopard, I will lurk by the path.

8 I will fall upon them like a bear robbed of her cubs, I will tear open their chests, like a lion will devour them, and like a wild beast will tear them in pieces.

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 You are destroyed, Israel, by me, your only helper.

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

10 I want to rule you! Where are your princes in your cities, those of whom you demanded, ‘Give me kings 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 I give you kings in my anger, and take them away in my wrath.

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

12 Ephrahn’s iniquity is gathered up, his sin is laid by in store.

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

13 The pangs of childbirth come upon him, but he is an unwise child. For this is no time to refuse to leave the womb!

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 Should I deliver them from the power of Sheol? Should I redeem them from death? Death, where are your plagues? Sheol, where is your pestilence? Compassion is forever hidden from my eyes. (Sheol h7585)

I will ransom them from the power of Sheol. I will redeem them from death. Death, where is your victory? Sheol, where is your sting? "Compassion will be hidden from my eyes. (Sheol h7585)

15 Though he is flourishing among his brothers, there will come an east wind, the Lord’s wind, coming up from the wilderness. His fountain will dry up, his spring shall be parched. The wind will strip the treasury, all the precious things.

Though he is fruitful among his brothers, an east wind will come, the breath of Jehovah 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 Samaria will bear her guilt, for she has rebelled against her God. They will fall by the sword, their children dashed to pieces, their pregnant women ripped open.

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."