Hosea 13

Ephraim’s Idolatry

11When Ephraim 2spoke, there was trembling. He 3exalted himself in Israel, But through 4Baal he incurred guilt and died.2And now they sin more and more, And make for themselves 5cast metal images, Idols 67skillfully made from their silver, All of them the 8work of craftsmen. They say of them, “Let the 9people who sacrifice kiss the 10calves!”3Therefore they will be like the 11morning cloud And like dew which 12soon disappears, Like 13chaff which is blown away from the threshing floor, And like 14smoke from a chimney.

4Yet I have been the 15Lord your God Since the land of Egypt; And you were not to know 16any god except Me, For there is no savior 17besides Me.5I 1819cared for you in the wilderness, 20In the land of drought.6As they had their pasture, they became 21satisfied, And as they became satisfied, their 22heart became proud; Therefore they 23forgot Me.7So I will be 24like a lion to them; Like a 25leopard I will 26lie in wait by the wayside.8I will confront them 27like a bear deprived of her cubs, And I will tear open 28their chests; I will also 29devour them there like a lioness, As a wild animal would tear them to pieces.

930It is to your own destruction, Israel, That you are 31against Me, against your 32help.10Where then is your 33king, That he might save you in all your cities; And your 34judges, to whom you said, “Give me a king and princes”?11I 35gave you a king in My anger, And 36took him away in My wrath.

12The guilt of Ephraim is wrapped up; His sin is 37stored up.13The pains of 38childbirth come on him; He is 39not a wise son, For 40it is not the time that he should 41delay at the opening of the womb.14Shall I 42ransom them from the 43power of Sheol? Shall I redeem them from death? 44Death, where are your 45thorns? Sheol, where is your sting? 46Compassion will be hidden from My sight.

15Though he 47flourishes among the 48reeds, An 49east wind will come, The wind of the Lord coming up from the wilderness; And his fountain will 50become dry And his spring will dry up; It will 51plunder his treasury of every precious article.1652Samaria will pay the penalty for her 53guilt, Because she has 54rebelled against her God. 55They will fall by the 56sword, Their children will be 5758slaughtered, And their pregnant 59women will be ripped open.