Hosea 13

1 When Ephraim spoke trembling, he exalted himself in Israel; but when he offended in Baal, he died.

When Ephraim used to speak there was trembling; a prince was he in Israel. But he incurred guilt through Baal and died.

2 And now they sin more and more, and have made them molten images of their silver, and idols according to their own understanding, all of it the work of the craftsmen: they say of them, Let the men that sacrifice kiss the calves.

And now they go on sinning. They make for themselves molten gods – idols of silver, skillfully made, wholly the work of smiths. Yet to such they sacrifice! And they who sacrifice kiss calf idols!

3 Therefore they shall be as the morning cloud, and as the early dew that passeth away, as the chaff that is driven with the whirlwind from the floor, and as the smoke from the chimney.

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.

4 Yet I am the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt, and thou shalt know no God but me: for there is no saviour besides me.

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 savior except me.

5 I did know thee in the wilderness, in the land of great drought.

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

6 According to their pasture, so were they filled; they were filled, and their heart was exalted; therefore have they forgotten me.

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

7 Therefore I will be to them as a lion: as a leopard by the way will I observe them:

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

8 I will meet them as a bear that is bereaved of her whelps, and will rend the fat of their heart, and there will I devour them like a lion: the wild beast shall tear them.

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.

9 O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; but in me is thy help.

You are destroyed, Israel, by me, your only helper.

10 I will be thy king: where is any other that may save thee in all thy cities? and thy judges of whom thou saidst, Give me a king and princes?

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

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

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

12 The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up; his sin is hid.

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

13 The sorrows of a travailing woman shall come upon him: he is an unwise son; for he should not stay long in the place of the breaking forth of children.

The pangs of childbirth come upon him, but he is an unwise child. For this is no time to refuse to leave the womb!

14 I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from my eyes. (Sheol h7585)

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)

15 Though he is fruitful among his brethren, an east wind shall come, the wind of the LORD shall come up from the wilderness, and his spring shall become dry, and his fountain shall be dried up: he shall plunder the treasure of all pleasant vessels.

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.

16 Samaria shall become desolate; 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 children dashed to pieces, their pregnant women ripped open.