1 C uando Efraín hablaba, hubo temor; fue exaltado en Israel; mas pecó en Baal, y murió.

When Ephraim spoke, men shook in fear. He was honored in Israel. But he sinned by worshiping Baal, and died.

2 Y ahora añadieron a su pecado, y de su plata se han hecho según su entendimiento imágenes de fundición, ídolos, toda obra de artífices, acerca de los cuales dicen a los hombres que sacrifican, que besen los becerros.

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 P or tanto, serán como la niebla de la mañana, y como el rocío de la madrugada que se pasa; como el tamo que la tempestad arroja de la era, y como el humo que sale de la chimenea.

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

“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 Y o te conocí en el desierto, en tierra seca.

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

6 E n sus pastos se saciaron, y repletos, se ensoberbeció su corazón; por esta causa se olvidaron de mí.

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

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

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

8 C omo osa que ha perdido los hijos los encontraré, y desgarraré las fibras de su corazón, y allí los devoraré como león; fiera del campo los despedazará.

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 T e perdiste, oh Israel, mas en mí está tu ayuda.

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

10 ¿ Dónde está tu rey, para que te guarde con todas tus ciudades; y tus jueces, de los cuales dijiste: Dame rey y príncipes?

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 T e di rey en mi furor, y te lo quité en mi ira.

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

12 A tada está la maldad de Efraín; su pecado está guardado.

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

13 D olores de mujer que da a luz le vendrán; es un hijo no sabio, porque ya hace tiempo que no debiera detenerse al punto mismo de nacer.

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 D e la mano del Seol los redimiré, los libraré de la muerte. Oh muerte, yo seré tu muerte; y seré tu destrucción, oh Seol; la compasión será escondida de mi vista.

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 A unque él fructifique entre los hermanos, vendrá el solano, viento de Jehová; se levantará desde el desierto, y se secará su manantial, y se agotará su fuente; él saqueará el tesoro de todas sus preciosas alhajas.

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

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.”