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

Cuando Efraín hablaba, cundía el temor; fue exaltado en Israel, mas pecó en Baal y murió.

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!

Ahora siguen en su pecado; con su plata se han hecho imágenes de fundición, ídolos de su invención, ¡todo obra de artífices! Y entonces dicen a los sacrificadores que besen a los becerros.

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.

Por tanto, serán como la niebla de la mañana y como el rocío de la madrugada, que se disipa; como la paja que la tempestad arroja de la era, como el humo que sale por la chimenea.

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.

«Mas yo soy Jehová, tu Dios, desde la tierra de Egipto; no conocerás, pues, otro dios fuera de mí, ni otro salvador sino a mí.

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

Yo te conocí en el desierto, en tierra seca.

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

»En sus pastos se saciaron y, una vez repletos, se ensoberbeció su corazón; por esta causa se olvidaron de mí.

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

Por tanto, yo seré para ellos como león; como un leopardo en el camino los acecharé.

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.

Como osa que ha perdido a sus hijos los atacaré y desgarraré las fibras de su corazón, y allí los devoraré como león; fiera del campo los despedazará.

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

Te perdiste, Israel, mas en mí está tu ayuda.

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?

¿Dónde está tu rey, para que te salve en todas tus ciudades, y tus jueces, a los que dijiste: “Dame un rey y príncipes”?

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

Te di un rey en mi furor, y te lo quité en mi ira.

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

»Atada está la maldad de Efraín, su pecado está guardado.

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.

Le vendrán dolores de mujer que da a luz; pero es un hijo insensato, pues no se colocó a tiempo en el punto mismo de nacer.

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.

De manos del seol los redimiré, los libraré de la muerte. Muerte, yo seré tu muerte; yo seré tu destrucción, seol. La compasión se ocultará de mi vista.

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.

Aunque él fructifique entre sus hermanos, vendrá el viento del este, el viento de Jehová que sube del desierto, y se secará su manantial, se agotará su fuente. Él despojará el tesoro de todas sus preciosas alhajas.

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 será asolada, porque se rebeló contra su Dios; caerán a espada, sus niños serán estrellados, y abiertas sus mujeres encintas.»