Hosea 13

Baal Worshipers and Calf Worshipers to be Destroyed

1 When Ephraims spoke,t there was terror;t
he was exalteds in Israel,
but he became guilty by worshiping Baal and died.

2 Even now they persist in sin!t
They make metal images for themselves,
idols that they skillfully fashiont from their own silver;
all of them are nothing but the work of craftsmen!
There is a saying about them:t
“Those who sacrificet to the calf idol are calf kissers!”t

3 Therefore they will disappear liket the morning mist,t
like early morning dew that evaporates,t
like chaff that is blown awayt from a threshing floor,
like smoke that disappears through an open window.

Well-Fed Israel Will Be Fed to Wild Animals

4 But I am the Lord your God,
who brought you out of Egypt.
Therefore, you must not acknowledge any God but me;
except me there is no Savior.

5 I careds for you in the wilderness,
in the dry desert where no water was.t

6 When they were fed,s they became satisfied;
when they were satisfied, they became proud;t
as a result, they forgot me!

7 Sot I will pounce on them like a lion;t
like a leopard I will lurk by the path.

8 I will attack them like a bear robbed of her cubs –
I will rip open their chests.
I will devour them there like a lion –
like a wild animal would tear them apart.

Israel’s King Unable to Deliver the Nation

9 I will destroy you,s O Israel!
Whos is there to help you?

10 Wheres then is your king,
that he may save you in all your cities?
Where aret your rulers for whom you asked, saying,
“Give me a king and princes”?

11 I grantedt you a king in my anger,
and I will take him away in my wrath!

Israel’s Punishment Will Not Be Withheld Much Longer

12 The punishmentt of Ephraim has been decreed;t
his punishment is being stored up for the future.

13 The labor pains of a woman will overtake him,
but the baby will lack wisdom;
when the time arrives,
he will not come out of the womb!

The Lord Will Not Relent from the Threatened Judgment

14 Will I deliver them from the power of Sheol? No, I will not!t
Will I redeem them from death? No, I will not!
O Death, bring on your plagues!t
O Sheol, bring on your destruction!ts
My eyes will not show any compassion!t

The Capital of the Northern Empire Will Be Destroyed

15 Even though he flourishes like a reed plant,st
a scorching east wind will come,
a wind from the Lord rising up from the desert.
As a result, his spring will dry up;s
his well will become dry.
That windt will spoil all his delightful foods
in the containers in his storehouse.

16 s Samaria will be held guilty,t
because she rebelled against her God.
They will fall by the sword,
their infants will be dashed to the ground –
theirt pregnant women will be ripped open.

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.