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.

When Ephraim, spake, there was terror, exalted was, he, in Israel, —but, when he became guilty with Baal, then he 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.”

Now, therefore they go on to sin, and have made them a Molten Thing out of their silver, after the notion of idols, the workmanship of craftsmen, all of it! Of them, are they saying—Ye sacrificers of men! The Great Calf, shall ye surely kiss!

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 become like the morning cloud, and like the dew early departing, —like chaff storm-driven out of the threshing-floor, and like smoke out of a chimney.

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.

Yet, I, Yahweh, have been thy God from the land of Egypt, —and, god beside me, shalt thou not acknowledge, for, saviour, is there none besides me.

5 I looked after you in the wilderness; in that dry desert land it was like pasture to them

I, tended thee in the desert, —in a land parched with drought:

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

Whenever they were pastured, then were they satisfied, They were satisfied, and their heart, was lifted up, —because of this, they forgat me.

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

Therefore am I become to them as a lion, —As a leopard by the way, do I watch.

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 fall upon them as a bear bereaved, and will read asunder the enclosure of their heart, —that I may devour them there, like a lioness, the wild beast of the field, shall tear them in pieces.

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

It hath utterly destroyed thee, O Israel, for it was against me, as thy helper!

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 thy king, then, that he may save thee throughout all thy cities? and thy judges, concerning whom thou saidst, Oh give me a king and rulers?

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

I might give thee a king in mine anger, and take him away in my wrath.

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

Bound up, is the iniquity of Ephraim, stored away, his sin.

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.

The pangs of a woman in labour, shall overtake him, —he, is a son, not wise, for, now, he cannot stand still, when children are about to be born.

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)

Out of the hand of hades, will I ransom them, out of death, will I redeem them, —Where is thy pestilence, O death? Where thy plague, O hades? Repentance, shall be hid 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.

Though, he, among brethren, be fruitful, there shall come in an east wind, the blast of Yahweh out of the desert coming up, that his spring, may dry up, and his fountain, be exhausted, he, will rob the treasure-house of all the vessels of delight.

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 held guilty, for she hath rebelled against her God, By the sword, shall they fall, their infants, shall be dashed to the ground, and, his women with child, shall be ripped up.