Hosea, 13

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

1. When Ephraim spoke all trembled; he was powerful in Israel but became guilty of Baal worship and ruined himself.

2. 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.

2. They now continue to sin and make images from molten metal, fashioning idols from silver, the work of craftsmen. And they call them God! They offer sacrifices to them and humans adore calves!

3. 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.

3. That is why they will be like morning mist and like dew which does not last, like the straw swept away on the threshing floor, like smoke escaping through a window.

4. 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.

4. But I am Yahweh, your God who brought you out of Egypt; you have no God other than me and no savior but me.

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

5. I knew you in the desert, in a land of scorching heat.

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

6. When they had food they were satisfied and when they were satisfied they became proud and no longer remembered me.

7. Therefore I will be unto them as a lion: as a leopard by the way will I observe [them]:

7. So I became for them like a leopard, like a tiger I watched out for them,

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 lion: the wild beast shall tear them.

8. and attacked them with the fury of a bear that has lost its cubs. I tore out their heart and like a lion I devoured them; like a savage beast I tore them apart.

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

9. Israel, you had in me a helper, will I be now your destroyer?

10. 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?

10. Where is your king that he may rescue your cities? Where are your rulers about whom you said, "Give us a king and commanders."

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

11. So in my anger I gave you a king and in my fury I took him away.

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

12. The wickedness of Ephraim is deep-set; his sin is stored up.

13. 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.

13. The pangs of woman in labor come upon him. But the child is capricious. When it is time he does not leave the womb.

14. 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.

14. Will I ransom them from the power of the netherworld? Will I rescue them from death? Not at all! Where, O death, are your plagues? Where, O netherworld, is your venom? Yet my eyes will not look with compassion

15. 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.

15. on the one who excelled among his brothers. Yahweh will send the east wind from the desert to dry up his sources of water and parch his fountains, to strip him of all his treasures.

16. 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.

16.