13
1 When Ephraim spoke, there
was trembling.
He exalted
himself in Israel,
but when he became
guilty through Baal,
he died.
2 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
they will be
like the morning
mist,
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 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
knew you in
the wilderness,
in the land
of great drought.
6 According
to their pasture,
so were they
filled;
they were filled,
and their heart
was exalted.
Therefore they
have forgotten me.
7 Therefore
I am like
a lion to
them.
Like a leopard,
I will lurk by
the path.
8 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 You
are destroyed,
Israel, because
you are against me,
against your helper.
10 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
have given you
a king in
my anger,
and have taken
him away in
my wrath.
12 The
guilt of Ephraim
is stored up.
His sin is
stored up.
13 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 Sheol.
I will redeem
them from death!
Death, where are
your plagues?
Sheol, where is
your destruction?
“Compassion will
be hidden from
my eyes.
15 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 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.”