1 ¶ When Ephraim spoke everyone feared, he was exalted in Israel; but he was found guilty in Baal and died.

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

2 A nd now they sin more and more, and of their silver they have made molten images according to their own intelligence, idols, all of it the work of the craftsmen; they say of them, Let the men that sacrifice kiss the calves.

And 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!

3 T herefore they shall be as the morning mist and as the early dew that passes away, as the chaff that is driven with the whirlwind out of the threshing floor and as the smoke out of the chimney.

Therefore 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.

4 Y et I am the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt; therefore thou shalt know no God other than me, nor any other saviour but me.

Yet 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.

5 ¶ I knew thee in the wilderness, in the dry land.

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

6 I n their pastures, they filled themselves; they were satisfied, and their heart was exalted; for this reason they have forgotten me.

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

7 T herefore I will be unto them as a lion; as a tiger in the way I will observe them:

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

8 I will meet them as a bear that is bereaved of her whelps and will rend the veil of their heart, and there I will devour them like a lion: the wild beast shall tear them apart.

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.

9 ¶ O Israel, thou hast caused thyself to become lost, but in me is thine help.

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

10 W here is thy king, that may save thee with all thy cities? and thy judges of whom thou didst say, 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 said, Give me a king and princes?

11 I gave thee a king in my anger and took him away in my wrath.

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

12 T he iniquity of Ephraim is bound up; his sin is hid.

The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up; his sin is laid up in store.

13 T he sorrows of a travailing woman shall come upon him; he is an unwise son; for a long time now he should not have stopped short at the very breaking forth of birth.

The 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.

14 I will ransom them from the power of Sheol; I will redeem them from death; O death, I will be thy end; O Sheol, I will be thy destruction. Repentance shall be hid from my eyes.

Should 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.

15 T hough he be fruitful among his brethren, the east wind shall come; the wind of the LORD shall come up from the wilderness, and his spring shall become dry, and his fountain shall be dried up; he shall spoil the treasure of all the vessels of desire.

For 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.

16 S amaria shall be condemned; 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 shall be ripped open.

Samaria 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.