Hosea 13

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

When Ephraim spoke, others trembled; he held a high place in Israel. But he became guilty through worshiping Baal, and he died.

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.

Now, their sins only multiply. They've crafted idols from their silver, shaped by their limited understanding. These are mere creations of artisans, yet they instruct, "Let those who offer sacrifices show reverence to these false gods."

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 out of the floor, and as the smoke out of the chimney.

They will fade quickly, like morning clouds and early dew, like chaff blown away by the wind, or smoke from a chimney.

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 beside me.

I am your God, who guided you from Egypt. You shall recognize no other deity but me, for I am your only savior.

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

I recognized you in the barren desert, during the harshest of droughts.

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

They thrived in their lush fields, their hearts swelled with pride, and in their abundance, they forgot about me.

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

So, I will be like a fierce lion to them; like a stealthy leopard I will lie in wait for them by the road.

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

I will confront them with the fierce anger of a mother bear robbed of her cubs, tearing open their hearts. I will consume them like a hungry lion, and they will be ripped apart by wild beasts.

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

Oh Israel, you've brought ruin upon yourself; yet, in me, you'll find your salvation.

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 am your ruler, your savior. Who else can rescue you in your cities? Where are the leaders you once asked for?

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

In my fury, I granted you a ruler, and in my rage, I removed him.

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

Ephraim's wrongdoings are tied up in a bundle; his sins are stored away.

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 pain of childbirth will overwhelm him; he's a foolish son. He shouldn't linger where new life emerges.

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 mine eyes.

I will rescue them from the grip of the grave; I will save them from death. Death, I will be your downfall; Grave, I will bring your end. My eyes will not see regret.

Though he be 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 spoil the treasure of all pleasant vessels.

Even if he thrives among his kin, a divine wind from the east, God's own breath from the barren lands, will come. It will drain his life's spring, leaving his source barren. He will lose all that he holds dear and precious.

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 be laid waste, for she has defied her God. They will fall by the sword; their little children will be dashed to pieces, and their pregnant women ripped open.