Hosea 13

1 When Ephraim spake, 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 passeth 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 Jehovah thy God from the land of Egypt; and thou shalt know no god but me, and besides me there is no saviour.5 I did know thee 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 unto 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 thy destruction, O Israel, that thou art against me, against thy help.10 Where now is thy king, that he may save thee in all thy cities? and thy judges, of whom thou saidst, Give me a king and princes?11 I have given thee a king in mine anger, and have taken him away in my wrath.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 thy plagues? O Sheol, where is thy destruction? repentance shall be hid from mine eyes.15 Though he be fruitful among his brethren, an east wind shall come, the breath of Jehovah 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 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.

HOSEA 13

Israel Is Doomed

The [Lord] said:

1 When your leaderst spoke,
everyone in Israel trembled
and showed great respect.
But you sinned by worshiping Baal,
and you were destroyed.

2 Now you continue to sin
by designing and making
idols of silver
in the shape of calves.
You are told to sacrifice
to these idolst —
yes, even to kiss them.

3 And so, all of you will vanish
like the mist or the dew
of early morning,
or husks of grain in the wind
or smoke from a chimney.

4 I, the [Lord], have been your God
since the time
you were in Egypt.
I am the only God you know,
the only one who can save.

5  t I took care of you
in a thirsty desert.t

6 I fed you till you were satisfied,
then you became proud
and forgot about me.

7 Now I will attack like a lion,
ambush you like a leopard,

8 and rip you apart like a bear
robbed of her cubs.
I will gnaw on your bones,
as though I were a lion
or some other wild animal.

9 Israel, you are done for.
Don't expect help from me.t

10  t You wanted a king and rulers.
Where is your king now?
What cities have rulers?

11  t In my anger, I gave you a king;
in my fury, I took him away.

Israel's Terrible Fate

The [Lord] said:

12 Israel, your terrible sins
are written down
and stored away.

13 You are like a senseless child
who refuses to be born
at the proper time.

14  t Should I, the [Lord], rescue you
from death and the grave?
No! I call death and the grave
to strike you like a plague.
I refuse to show mercy.

15 No matter if you prosper
more than the other tribes, t
I, the [Lord], will wipe you out,
just as a scorching desert wind
dries up streams of water.
I will take away
your precious treasures.

16 Samariat will be punished
for turning against me.
It will be destroyed in war—
children will be beaten
against rocks,
and pregnant women
will be ripped open.