Hosea 13

1When Ephraim spake, there was trembling; he exalted himself in Israel; but when he offended in Baal, he died.

1When the tribe of Ephraim spoke, people trembled; they were powerful in Israel. But they became guilty of worshiping the god Baal, and that was their downfall.

2And now they sin more and more, and have made them molten images of their silver, even idols according to their own understanding, all of them the work of the craftsmen: they say of them, Let the men that sacrifice kiss the calves.

2Now they continue to sin more and more. They make metal images from their silver, idols designed by their own skill; they are all just the work of craftsmen. People say of these, 'Let those who offer sacrifices kiss the calf-idols.'

3Therefore they shall be as the morning cloud, and as the dew that passeth early away, as the chaff that is driven with the whirlwind out of the threshing-floor, and as the smoke out of the chimney.

3Therefore, they will disappear like the morning mist or the early dew that vanishes. They will be like chaff blown from a threshing floor or like smoke escaping through a window.

4Yet I am Jehovah thy God from the land of Egypt; and thou shalt know no god but me, and besides me there is no saviour.

4Yet I have been the LORD your God ever since you were in the land of Egypt. You should acknowledge no God but me, for there is no Savior except me.

5I did know thee in the wilderness, in the land of great drought.

5I took care of you in the wilderness, in that land of burning heat and drought.

6According to their pasture, so were they filled; they were filled, and their heart was exalted: therefore have they forgotten me.

6When I fed them, they became satisfied. Once they were full, they became proud, and because of their pride, they forgot me.

7Therefore am I unto them as a lion; as a leopard will I watch by the way;

7So I will be like a lion to them; like a leopard I will lie in wait along their path.

8I will meet them as a bear that is bereaved of her whelps, and will rend the caul of their heart; and there will I devour them like a lioness; the wild beast shall tear them.

8I will attack them like a bear robbed of her cubs and rip them wide open. I will devour them there like a lion; wild animals will tear them apart.

9It is thy destruction, O Israel, that thou art against me, against thy help.

9You are destroyed, Israel, because you are against me, though I am your only helper.

10Where now is thy king, that he may save thee in all thy cities? and thy judges, of whom thou saidst, Give me a king and princes?

10Where is your king now? Can he save you in any of your cities? Where are the leaders you asked for when you said, 'Give me a king and princes'?

11I have given thee a king in mine anger, and have taken him away in my wrath.

11I gave you a king because I was angry, and I took him away because I was furious.

12The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up; his sin is laid up in store.

12The guilt of Ephraim is wrapped up; his sins are kept on record.

13The sorrows of a travailing woman shall come upon him: he is an unwise son; for it is time he should not tarry in the place of the breaking forth of children.

13Pains like those of a woman in labor come to him, but he is a foolish son; when the time comes for birth, he refuses to come out of the womb.

14I will ransom them from the power of Sheol; I will redeem them from death: O death, where are thy plagues? O Sheol, where is thy destruction? repentance shall be hid from mine eyes.

14Should I ransom them from the power of the grave? Should I redeem them from death? O death, bring on your plagues! O grave, bring on your destruction! I will have no more compassion.

15Though he be fruitful among his brethren, an east wind shall come, the breath of Jehovah coming up from the wilderness; and his spring shall become dry, and his fountain shall be dried up: he shall make spoil of the treasure of all goodly vessels.

15Even though Ephraim flourishes among his brothers, an east wind from the LORD will come blowing in from the desert. His water sources will fail and his springs will run dry. The enemy will plunder his treasury of every precious thing.

16Samaria shall bear her guilt; for she hath rebelled against her God: they shall fall by the sword; their infants shall be dashed in pieces, and their women with child shall be ripped up.

16The people of Samaria must bear their guilt because they have rebelled against their God. They will die by the sword; their little children will be dashed to pieces, and their pregnant women will be ripped open.