1 W hen Ephraim spoke, men shook in fear. He was honored in Israel. But he sinned by worshiping Baal, and 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. 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!”

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 S o 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.

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 “ 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.

“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 cared for you in the desert, in the land where there was no water.

I knew you in the wilderness, In the land of great drought.

6 W hen I fed them, they were filled. And when they were filled, their heart became proud and they forgot Me.

When they had pasture, they were filled; They were filled and their heart was exalted; Therefore they forgot Me.

7 S o I will be like a lion to them. I will lie in wait by the road like a leopard.

“So I will be to them like a lion; Like a leopard by the road I will lurk;

8 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.

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

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

10 W here 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’?

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 gave you a king in My anger, and in My anger I took him away.

I gave you a king in My anger, And took him away in My wrath.

12 “ The wrong-doing of Ephraim is being kept. His sin is being stored up.

“The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up; His sin is stored up.

13 T he pains like a woman giving birth will come upon him, but he is not a wise son. He is not willing to be born.

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 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.

“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 “ 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.

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 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.”

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.