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, there was trembling. He exalted himself in Israel, But through Baal he did wrong and 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 make for themselves molten images, Idols skillfully made from their silver, All of them the work of craftsmen. They say of them, “Let the men who sacrifice kiss 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 will be like the morning cloud And like dew which soon disappears, Like chaff which is blown away from the threshing floor And like smoke from a chimney.

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 have been the Lord your God Since the land of Egypt; And you were not to know any god except Me, For there is no savior besides Me.

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

I cared for you in the wilderness, In the land of drought.

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

As they had their pasture, they became satisfied, And being satisfied, their heart became proud; Therefore they forgot Me.

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

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

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 encounter them like a bear robbed of her cubs, And I will tear open their chests; There I will also 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 are against Me, against 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 requested, “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 gave you a king in My anger And took 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 stored up.

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 childbirth come upon him; He is not a wise son, For it is not the time that he should delay at the opening of the womb.

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.

Shall I ransom them from the power of Sheol? Shall I redeem them from death? O Death, where are your thorns? O Sheol, where is your sting? Compassion will be hidden from My sight.

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.

Though he flourishes among the reeds, An east wind will come, The wind of the Lord coming up from the wilderness; And his fountain will become dry And his spring will be dried up; It will plunder his treasury of every precious article.

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 will be held guilty, For she has rebelled against her God. They will fall by the sword, Their little ones will be dashed in pieces, And their pregnant women will be ripped open.