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 he became guilty because of Baal worship, and 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. 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 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.

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 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.

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

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

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

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

I will become like a lion to them; like a leopard I will watch along 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 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 You are destroyed, Israel, by me, your only helper.

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

10 I want to rule you! Where are your princes in your cities, those of whom you demanded, ‘Give me kings and princes.’

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 I give you kings in my anger, and take them away in my wrath.

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

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

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

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 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)

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 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 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 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 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.