Hosea 13

1 When the words of my law came from Ephraim, he was lifted up in Israel; but when he did evil through the Baal, death overtook him.

從前厄弗辣因一發言，令人害怕，他原是以色列中的首領；但後來他因巴耳而犯罪，至於滅亡。

2 And now their sins are increased; they have made themselves a metal image, false gods from their silver, after their designs, all of them the work of the metal-workers; they say of them, Let them give offerings, let men give kisses to the oxen.

如今他們仍舊犯罪，用銀子為自己鑄神像，按照他們的幻想製造偶像；這一切只是匠人的作品，他們反說：「應向他們獻祭! 各人就口親牛犢。

3 So they will be like the morning cloud, like the dew which goes early away, like the dust of the grain which the wind is driving out of the crushing-floor, like smoke going up from the fireplace.

因此，他們將如黎明的雲霧，如易逝的朝霞，如禾場上被風捲去的糠秕，如由窗口冒出的煙氣

4 But I am the Lord your God, from the land of Egypt; you have knowledge of no other God and there is no saviour but me.

從在埃及地時，我就是上主，你們的天主；除我以外，你們不可認識其他的神；除我以外，別無拯救者。

5 I had knowledge of you in the waste land where no water was.

我在曠野中──在乾旱之地──牧放了你。

6 When I gave them food they were full, and their hearts were full of pride, and they did not keep me in mind.

我牧養了他們，使他們得以飽食；但飽食之後，他們便心高氣傲，反而忘卻了我。

7 So I will be like a lion to them; as a cruel beast I will keep watch by the road;

所以我對他們像一隻獅子，像一頭豹子，伏在路旁，窺伺他們；

8 I will come face to face with them like a bear whose young ones have been taken from her, and their inmost hearts will be broken; there the dogs will make a meal of them; they will be wounded by the beasts of the field.

像一隻失掉幼子的母熊衝向他們，撕破他們胸內的心，好叫野狗在那裏舌食他們，野獸撕裂他們。

9 I have sent destruction on you, O Israel; who will be your helper?

以色列! 我要摧毀你，有誰能援助你﹖

10 Where is your king, that he may be your saviour? and all your rulers, that they may take up your cause? of whom you said, Give me a king and rulers.

你的君王在哪裏﹖讓他來拯救你! 你所有的領袖在哪裏﹖叫他們來保護你! 因為你曾說：「請你賜給我君王和領袖! 」

11 I have given you a king, because I was angry, and have taken him away in my wrath.

我在憤怒中給了你君王，我也要在盛怒中，再將他除去。

12 The wrongdoing of Ephraim is shut up; his sin is put away in secret.

厄弗辣因的邪惡已被封存，他的罪孽已被貯藏。

13 The pains of a woman in childbirth will come on him: he is an unwise son, for at this time it is not right for him to keep his place when children come to birth.

分娩的劇痛將臨到他身上，可是胎兒是一個愚蠢的孩子，雖然時候到了，他仍不願脫離母胎。

14 I will give the price to make them free from the power of the underworld, I will be their saviour from death: O death! where are your pains? O underworld! where is your destruction? my eyes will have no pity. (Sheol h7585)

我要解救他們脫離死亡嗎﹖死亡啊! 你的災害在哪裏﹖陰府啊! 你的毀滅在哪裏﹖憐憫已由我的眼前隱蔽了。 (Sheol h7585)

15 Though he gives fruit among his brothers, an east wind will come, the wind of the Lord coming up from the waste land, and his spring will become dry, his fountain will be without water: it will make waste the store of all the vessels of his desire.

他在蘆葦中雖長的茂盛，但必有東風吹來：上主的風必由曠野吹來，使他的泉源乾涸。他必掠去他所貯藏的一切寶物。

16 Samaria will be made waste, for she has gone against her God: they will be cut down by the sword, their little children will be broken on the rocks, their women who are with child will be cut open.

撒馬利亞必要承當罪罰，因為她背叛了自己的天主；她的居民必喪身刀下，他們的嬰兒必被摔死，他們的孕婦必被剖腹。