1 W hen Ephraim spoke, there was trembling. He exalted himself in Israel, but when he became guilty in Baal, he died.

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

2 N ow 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.’

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 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.

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 “ 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.

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 you in the wilderness, in the land of great drought.

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

6 A ccording to their pasture, so were they filled; they were filled, and their heart was exalted. Therefore 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 am like a lion to them. Like a leopard, I will lurk by the path.

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 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.

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 Y ou are destroyed, Israel, because you are against me, against your help.

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

10 W here 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?’

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 have given you a king in my anger, and have taken 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 guilt of Ephraim is stored up. His sin is stored up.

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

13 T he 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.

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! Death, where are your plagues? Sheol, where is your destruction? “Compassion will be hidden 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 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.

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 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.”

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.