Hosea 13

Ephraim Became Guilty through Baal

1When Ephraim spoke,
there was trembling;
he was exalted in Israel.
But he became guilty through Baal
and died. 2And now they continue to sin.
They make for themselves cast images
from their silver,
idols according to their understanding,
all of them the work of craftsmen.
They say concerning them,
“Those who sacrifice humans
kiss calves!” 3Therefore they will be
like the morning cloud,
like dew that goes away early,
like chaff blown from the threshing floor,
and like smoke
from a window.

You Shall Know No God but Me

4But I am the LORD your God
from the land of Egypt.
You shall know no God but me,
and there is no savior
besides me. 5I knew you in the wilderness,
in the land of burning heat. 6According to their pasture,
they became satisfied.
They were satisfied,
and their heart became exalted;
therefore they forgot me.

I Will Be Like a Lion

7So I will be to them like a lion;
like a leopard by the road
I will watch. 8I will meet them
like a bear bereaved of her cubs
and tear open
the covering of their heart.
There I will devour them like a lioness;
a wild animal
will tear them apart.

Where Is Your King?

9You have destroyed yourself, Israel,
for your help is only in me. 10Where 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 officials”? 11I gave you a king in my anger,
and I took him away
in my fury.

The Guilt of Ephraim Is Bound Up

12The guilt of Ephraim is bound up;
his sin is stored away. 13Pains of childbirth come upon him,
but he is an unwise child,
for at the right time
he does not present himself
at the opening of the womb.

Where Are Your Plagues, O Death?

14Shall I ransom them from the hand of Sheol?
Shall I redeem them from death?

Where are your plagues, O Death?
Where is your destruction, O Sheol?

Compassion is hidden
from my eyes.

The East Wind Will Come

15Though he flourishes among brothers,
an east wind will come,
the wind of the LORD rising from the wilderness.
His spring will dry up,
and his fountain will become dry.
It will plunder the treasury
of every precious vessel. 16Samaria will bear her guilt,
for she rebelled against her God.
They will fall by the sword;
their little children will be dashed to pieces,
and their pregnant women
will be ripped open.