Hosea 13:1-4

1In past times, when the leaders of Israel spoke, the people were afraid. The people respected their leaders. But the people became guilty when they worshipped Baal. Because of that, they died.

2Now the Israelites continue to do more and more sins. They use metal to make idols for themselves. They use clever skills to make idols from silver. All their idols are only things that people have made themselves. People offer sacrifices to the image of a calf. They say, ‘Kiss the calf!’

3So those people will soon disappear! They will quickly disappear like mist or dew in the morning. They will be like chaff that the wind blows away from a threshing floor. They will be like smoke that disappears out of an open window.

4The Lord says, ‘I am the Lord your God. I brought you out from Egypt. You must not serve any other God. No one else can save you except me.