1 W hen Ephraim spake, there was trembling; he exalted himself in Israel; but when he offended in Baal, 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 them molten images of their silver, even idols according to their own understanding, all of them the work of the craftsmen: they say of them, Let the men that sacrifice kiss 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 as the morning cloud, and as the dew that passeth early away, as the chaff that is driven with the whirlwind out of the threshing-floor, and as the smoke out of the chimney.

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 Jehovah thy God from the land of Egypt; and thou shalt know no god but me, and besides me there is no saviour.

“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 did know thee 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; they were filled, and their heart was exalted: 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 am I unto them as a lion; as a leopard will I watch by the way;

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 as a bear that is bereaved of her whelps, and will rend the caul of their heart; and there will I devour them like a lioness; the wild beast shall 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 thy destruction, O Israel, that thou art against me, against thy help.

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

10 W here now is thy king, that he may save thee in all thy cities? and thy judges, of whom thou saidst, 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 thee a king in mine anger, and 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 sorrows of a travailing woman shall come upon him: he is an unwise son; for it is time he should not tarry in the place of the breaking forth of children.

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 I will ransom them from the power of Sheol; I will redeem them from death: O death, where are thy plagues? O Sheol, where is thy destruction? repentance shall be hid from mine 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 T hough he be fruitful among his brethren, an east wind shall come, the breath of Jehovah coming up from the wilderness; and his spring shall become dry, and his fountain shall be dried up: he shall make spoil of the treasure of all goodly vessels.

“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; for she hath rebelled against her God: they shall fall by the sword; their infants shall be dashed in pieces, and their women with child 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.”