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, men shook in fear. He was honored in Israel. But he sinned by worshiping Baal, 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. They make false gods for themselves. Their able workmen make them out of silver. And they say, “Let the men who give gifts in worship kiss the calf-gods!”

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.

So they will be like the morning cloud, and like the water on the grass in the early morning which is soon gone. They will be like the dust of the grain that is blown away from the grain-floor, and like smoke from a fire.

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.

“I am the Lord your God Who brought you out of Egypt. You were not to know any god but Me, for there is no one who can save you but 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 desert, in the land where there was no water.

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

When I fed them, they were filled. And when they were filled, their heart became proud and 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. I will lie in wait by the road like a leopard.

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 fight them like a bear robbed of her young ones. I will tear open their chests. I will eat them there like a female lion, and tear them like a wild animal.

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

“I will destroy you, O Israel, because you are against Me, against your Helper.

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 is your king, that he may save you? Where are your rulers in all your cities, of whom you said, ‘Give me a king and leaders’?

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 in My anger I took him away.

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

“The wrong-doing of Ephraim is being kept. His sin is being 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 like a woman giving birth will come upon him, but he is not a wise son. He is not willing to be 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 pay the price to free them from the power of the grave. I will save them from death. O Death, where are your thorns? O Grave, where is your power to destroy? I will have no loving-pity.

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.

“Even if he grows among his brothers, an east wind will come. The wind of the Lord will come from the desert. And his well will dry up. His water will be gone. It will take away everything of much worth.

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 suffer for her guilt, for she has not wanted to obey her God. They will be killed by the sword. Their little ones will be crushed in pieces. And their women who are soon to give birth will be torn open.”