Hosea 13

1 Once when Ephraim spake, there was trembling; he was exalted in Israel; But he offended 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 sin more and more, And have made to themselves molten images; Of their silver by their skill have they made idols; All of it is the work of artificers. They say concerning them, Whoever will sacrifice, let him kiss the calves!

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 shall they be as the morning cloud, And as the early dew, which passeth away; As chaff driven with a whirlwind from the thrashing-floor, And as smoke from the chimney.

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 I, Jehovah, have been thy God from the land of Egypt, And thou hast known no God but me; Yea, there was no saviour besides me.

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

5 I cared for thee in the desert, In the land of great drought.

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

6 As they were fed, so they were filled; They were filled, and their heart was lifted up; 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 Therefore have I become to them as a lion; As a leopard I watch for them in the way;

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

8 I will meet them as a bear bereaved of her whelps, And I will rend the caul of their heart, And there will I devour them as a lioness; The wild beast shall tear them.

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 It hath been thy destruction, O Israel, That against me, against thy help, thou hast rebelled!

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

10 Where is now thy king? Let him save thee in all thy cities! And where thy judges, In regard to whom thou saidst, Give me a king 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 gave thee a king in mine anger, And I have taken him away in my wrath;

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

12 the iniquity of Ephraim is treasured up; His guilt is laid up in store.

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

13 The pangs of a travailing woman shall come upon him; He is an unwise son, For else would he not tarry long in the place of the breaking forth of children.

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 I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death; O death, where is thy plague? O grave, where is thy destruction? Repentance is hidden from mine 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 be fruitful among his brethren, An east wind shall come, A wind of Jehovah shall come up from the desert, And his spring shall become dry, And his fountain shall be dried up, And the treasure of all his pleasant vessels shall be spoiled.

Though he is fruitful among his brothers, an east wind will come, the breath of the LORD 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 shall suffer for her guilt, For she hath rebelled against her God. They shall fall by the sword; Their infants shall be dashed in pieces, And their women with child shall be ripped up.

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."