Hosea, 13

¹ “When Eʹphra·im spoke, there was trembling; he himself carried [weight] in Israel. But he proceeded to become guilty in regard to Baʹal and die.

² And now they commit additional sin and make for themselves a molten statue from their silver, idols according to their own understanding, the work of craftsmen, all of it. To them they are saying, ‘Let the sacrificers who are men^*1 kiss mere calves.’

³ Therefore they will become like the clouds of morning and like the dew that early goes away; like chaff that is stormed away from the threshing floor and like smoke from the [roof] hole.

⁴ “But I am Jehovah your God^*1 from the land of Egypt, and there was no God except me that you used to know; and there was no savior but I.

⁵ I myself knew you in the wilderness, in the land of fevers.^*1

⁶ According to their pasturage they also came to be satisfied. They became satisfied and their heart began to be exalted. That is why they forgot me.

⁷ And I shall become to them like a young lion. Like a leopard by [the] way I shall keep looking.

⁸ I shall encounter them like a bear that has lost its cubs, and I shall rip apart the enclosure of their heart. And I shall devour them there like a lion; a wild beast of the field itself will tear them to pieces.

⁹ It will certainly bring you to ruin, O Israel, because it was against me, against your helper.

¹⁰ “Where, then, is your king, that he may save you in all your cities, and your judges, [concerning] whom you said, ‘Do give me a king and princes’?

¹¹ I proceeded to give you a king in my anger, and I shall take [him] away in my fury.

¹² “The error of Eʹphra·im is wrapped up, his sin is treasured up.

¹³ The labor pangs of a woman giving birth are what will come to him. He is a son not wise, for in season he will not stand still at the breaking forth of sons [from the womb].

¹⁴ “From the hand of Sheʹol^*1 I shall redeem them; from death^*2 I shall recover them.^*3 Where are your stings, O Death? Where is your destructiveness, O Sheʹol?^*4 Compassion itself will be concealed from my eyes.

¹⁵ “In case he himself as the son of reed plants should show fruitfulness, an east wind, the wind^*1 of Jehovah, will come. From a wilderness it is coming up, and it will dry up his well and drain his spring. That one will pillage the treasure of all desirable articles.

¹⁶ “Sa·marʹi·a will be held guilty, for she is actually rebellious against her God.^*1 By the sword they will fall. Their own children will be dashed to pieces, and their pregnant women themselves will be ripped up.”