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, trembling, He exalted himself in Israel; But when he offended through Baal worship, he 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!

Now they sin more and more, And have made for themselves molded images, Idols of their silver, according to their skill; All of it is 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 shall be like the morning cloud And like the early dew that passes away, Like chaff blown off from a 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 am the Lord your God Ever since the land of Egypt, And you shall know no God but 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 knew you in the wilderness, In the land of great drought.

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

When they had pasture, they were filled; They were filled and their heart was exalted; 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 to them like a lion; Like a leopard by the road I will lurk;

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 meet them like a bear deprived of her cubs; I will tear open their rib cage, And there I will devour them like a lion. The wild beast shall tear them.

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

“O Israel, you are destroyed, But your help is from Me.

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?

I will be your King; Where is any other, That he may save you in all your cities? And your judges to whom you said, ‘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 sorrows of a woman in childbirth shall come upon him. He is an unwise son, For he should not stay long where children are born.

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.

“I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death. O Death, I will be your plagues! O Grave, I will be your destruction! Pity is hidden from My eyes.”

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 is fruitful among his brethren, An east wind shall come; The wind of the Lord shall come up from the wilderness. Then his spring shall become dry, And his fountain shall be dried up. He shall plunder the treasury of every desirable prize.

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 is held guilty, For she has rebelled against her God. They shall fall by the sword, Their infants shall be dashed in pieces, And their women with child ripped open.