1 W hen Ephraim spoke with trembling, he exalted himself in Israel; but when he offended and became guilty in Baal worship, he died.

When Ephraim spoke, there was trembling. He exalted himself in Israel, But through Baal he did wrong and died.

2 A nd now they sin more and more and have made for themselves molten images of their silver, even idols according to their own understanding, all of them the work of the craftsmen. To these they speak or pray who sacrifice to them; they kiss and show homage to the calves!

And now they sin more and more, And make for themselves molten images, Idols skillfully made from their silver, All of them the work of craftsmen. They say of them, “Let the men who sacrifice kiss the calves!”

3 T herefore they shall be like the morning mist or like the dew that passes early away, like the chaff that swirls with the whirlwind from the threshing floor and as the smoke out of the chimney or through the window.

Therefore they will be like the morning cloud And like dew which soon disappears, Like chaff which is blown away from the threshing floor And like smoke from a chimney.

4 Y et I am the Lord your God from the land of Egypt, and you shall know or recognize no God but Me, for there is no Savior besides Me.

Yet I have been the Lord your God Since the land of Egypt; And you were not to know any god except Me, For there is no savior besides Me.

5 I knew (recognized, understood, and had regard for) you in the wilderness, in the land of great drought.

I cared for you in the wilderness, In the land of drought.

6 A ccording to their pasture, so were they filled, and their heart was lifted up; therefore have they forgotten Me.

As they had their pasture, they became satisfied, And being satisfied, their heart became proud; Therefore they forgot Me.

7 T herefore I have become to them like a lion; like a leopard I will lurk by the way and watch them.

So I will be like a lion to them; Like a leopard I will lie in wait by the wayside.

8 I will meet them like a bear that is robbed of her cubs, and I will rend the covering of their heart, and there will I devour them like a lioness, as a wild beast would tear them.

I will encounter them like a bear robbed of her cubs, And I will tear open their chests; There I will also devour them like a lioness, As a wild beast would tear them.

9 I t is your destruction, O Israel, that you have been against Me, for in Me is your help.

It is your destruction, O Israel, That you are against Me, against your help.

10 W here now is your king that he may save you in all your cities? And your judges of whom you said, Give me a king and princes?

Where now is your king That he may save you in all your cities, And your judges of whom you requested, “Give me a king and princes”?

11 I have given you a king in My anger, and I have taken him away in My wrath.

I gave you a king in My anger And took him away in My wrath.

12 T he iniquity of Ephraim is bound up; his sin is laid up in store.

The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up; His sin is stored up.

13 T he pains of a woman in childbirth are coming on for him; but he is an unwise son, for now when it is time, he comes not to the place where children break forth.

The pains of childbirth come upon him; He is not a wise son, For it is not the time that he should delay at the opening of the womb.

14 S hould I ransom them from the power of Sheol (the place of the dead)? Should I redeem them from death? O death, where are your plagues? O Sheol, where is your destruction? Relenting and compassion are hidden from My eyes.

Shall I ransom them from the power of Sheol? Shall I redeem them from death? O Death, where are your thorns? O Sheol, where is your sting? Compassion will be hidden from My sight.

15 F or though among his brethren he may be fruitful, an east wind will come, the breath of the Lord rising from the desert; and Ephraim’s spring shall become dry and his fountain be dried up. shall plunder his treasury of every precious vessel.

Though he flourishes among the reeds, An east wind will come, The wind of the Lord coming up from the wilderness; And his fountain will become dry And his spring will be dried up; It will plunder his treasury of every precious article.

16 S amaria shall bear her guilt and become desolate, for she rebelled against her God; they shall fall by the sword, their infants shall be dashed in pieces, and their pregnant women shall be ripped up.

Samaria will be held guilty, For she has rebelled against her God. They will fall by the sword, Their little ones will be dashed in pieces, And their pregnant women will be ripped open.