Hosea 13

1 When Ephraim spoke, they were feared, for they were the leading tribe in Israel. But when they were guilty of Baal worship, they died.

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

2 Now they constantly sin, making for themselves idols from molten metal. All of these idols are skillfully made from silver by their craftsmen. “Offer sacrifices to these idols,” say the people. “Kiss the bull calf idols.”

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 Consequently they will be like the morning mist, like early morning dew, like chaff blowing away from the threshing floor, like smoke from a 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 who brought you out of the land of Egypt. You shall know no other gods but me. None can save you except 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 looked after you in the wilderness; in that dry desert land it was like pasture to them

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

6 and they were satisfied. But when they were satisfied they became arrogant, and they forgot me.

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

7 So I will be like a lion to them, like a leopard I will lie in wait beside the path.

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

8 I will be like a mother bear whose cubs have been taken, I will rip out their hearts. I shall devour them like a lion, like a wild beast I will tear them apart.

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 You have destroyed yourselves, Israel, for your only help is in me.

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

10 Where then is your king? Let him save you in all your cities! Where are your leaders who demanded a king and princes from me?

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 In my anger I give you a king, and in my fury I take one.

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

12 Ephraim's guilt is packed up; their sin will be eradicated.

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

13 The pain of childbirth has come to them, trying to give birth to a son who is not “wise” because he is not in the right position when the time comes.

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 shall redeem them from the power of Sheol; I shall deliver them from death. Where, death, are your plagues? Where, Sheol, is your destruction? Compassion is hidden from my sight. (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 Even though they flourish among the reeds, an east wind will come, a wind from the Lord that rises in the desert will dry up their springs and their wells will fail. It will rob from their treasury everything of value.

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 will have to bear the consequences of their guilt, because they rebelled against her God. They will be slaughtered by the sword; their children will be dashed to the ground; their pregnant women will be ripped open.

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.