Hosea 13

VIN(i) 1 ¶ When Ephraim spoke everyone feared, he was exalted in Israel; but he was found guilty in Baal and died. 2 »They sin more and more. They make idols from silver for themselves. These idols are skillfully made. All of them are the work of craftsmen. People say this about the Israelites: They offer sacrifices and kiss calf-shaped idols. 3 Therefore, they will be like the morning cloud, and like the dew of early morning going away, like chaff swirling from the threshing floor, or like smoke from a window. 4 "I AM the LORD YOUR GOD. I brought you out of Egypt. You have known no god besides me. There is no savior except me. 5 I fed you in the desert, in the land of drought. 6 When I fed them, they were satisfied; they were satisfied and their heart was lifted up; therefore they forgot me. 7 Therefore I will be like a lion to them, like a leopard I will lurk by the path. 8 "Like a bear that has lost her cubs, I will attack you. I will rip you open. Like a lion I will devour you. Like a wild animal I will tear you apart. 9 You are destroyed, Israel, because you are against me, against your help. 10 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 I took him in my wrath. 12 The guilt of Ephraim is stored up, his sin is stored up. 13 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 ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be your plagues; O grave, I will be your destruction: pity shall be hid from my eyes. 15 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 Samaria will be guilty, because she has rebelled against her God; they will fall by the sword, their children will be dashed to pieces, and their pregnant women will be ripped open.