Hos 13
1
When Ephraim spoke, there was trembling; he exalted himself in Israel; but when he
offended in Baal, he died.
2
And now they sin more and more, and have made them molten images of their silver,
even idols according to their own understanding, all of them the work of the craftsmen:
they say of them, Let the men that sacrifice kiss the calves.
3
Therefore they shall be as the morning cloud, and as the dew that passes early away,
as the chaff that is driven with the whirlwind out of the threshing-floor, and as
the smoke out of the chimney.
4
Yet I am YHWH your God from the land of Egypt; and you shall know no god but me, and
besides me there is no saviour.
5
I did know 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 have they forgotten me.
7
Therefore am I to them as a lion; as a leopard will I watch by the way;
8
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 lioness; the wild beast shall
tear them.
9
It is your destruction, O Israel, that [you are] against me, against your help.
10
Where now is your king, 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 mine anger, and have taken him away in my anger.
12
The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up; his sin is laid up in store.
13
The sorrows of a travailing woman shall come upon him: he is an unwise son; for it
is time he should not tarry in the place of the breaking forth of children.
14
I will ransom them from the power of Sheol; I will redeem them from death: O death,
where are your plagues? O Sheol, where is your destruction? repentance shall be hid
from mine eyes.
15
Though he be fruitful among his brethren, an east wind shall come, the breath of YHWH
coming up from the wilderness; and his spring shall become dry, and his fountain shall
be dried up: he shall make spoil of the treasure of all goodly vessels.
16
Samaria shall bear her guilt; for she has 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.