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, there was trembling. He exalted himself in Israel, but when he became guilty in Baal, 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 themselves molten images of their silver, even idols according to their own understanding, all of them the work of the craftsmen. They say of them, ‘They offer human sacrifice and 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 will be like the morning mist, and like the dew that passes away early, like the chaff that is driven with the whirlwind out of the threshing floor, and like the smoke out of the 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 Yahweh your God from the land of Egypt; and you shall acknowledge no god but me, and besides me there is no savior.

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.

According to their pasture, so were they filled; they were filled, and their heart was exalted. Therefore they have forgotten me.

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

Therefore I am like a lion to them. Like a leopard, I will lurk by the path.

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 that is bereaved of her cubs, and will tear the covering of their heart. There I will devour them like a lioness. The wild animal will tear them.

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

You are destroyed, Israel, because you are against me, against your help.

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’?

Where is your king now, 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 you a king in My anger, and in My anger I took him away.

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

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

The guilt of Ephraim is stored 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 travailing woman will come on him. He is an unwise son; for when it is time, he doesn’t come to the opening of the womb.

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 Sheol. I will redeem them from death! Death, where are your plagues? Sheol, where is your destruction? “Compassion will be 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 brothers, an east wind will come, the breath of Yahweh coming up from the wilderness; and his spring will become dry, and his fountain will be dried up. He will plunder the storehouse of treasure.

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 will bear her guilt; for she has rebelled against her God. They will fall by the sword. Their infants will be dashed in pieces, and their pregnant women will be ripped open.”