Hosea

13 When Ephraim spake there was terror, Exalted was he in Israel,—But when he became guilty with Baal Then he died.

2 Now therefore they go on to sin And have made them a Molten Thing out of their silver After the notion of idols, The workmanship of craftsmen all of it! Of them are they saying—Ye sacrificers of men! The Great Calf shall ye surely kiss!

3 Therefore shall they become Like the morning cloud, And like the dew early departing,—Like chaff storm-driven out of the threshing-floor, And like smoke out of a chimney.

4 Yet I Yahweh have been thy God from the land of Egypt,—And god beside me shalt thou not acknowledge, For saviour is there none besides me.

5 I tended thee in the desert,—In a land parched with drought:

6 Whenever they were pastured then were they satisfied, They were satisfied and their heart was lifted up,—Because of this they forgat me.

7 Therefore am I become to them as a lion,—As a leopard by the way do I watch.

8 I will fall upon them as a bear bereaved, And will rend asunder the enclosure of their heart,—That I may devour them there like a lioness, The wild beast of the field shall tear them in pieces.

9 It hath utterly destroyed thee, O Israel, For it was against me as thy helper!

10 Where is thy king then, That he may save thee throughout all thy cities? And thy judges, Concerning whom thou saidst, Oh give me a king and rulers?

11 I might give thee a king in mine anger, And take him away in my wrath.

12 Bound up is the iniquity of Ephraim, Stored away his sin.

13 The pangs of a woman in labour shall overtake him,—He is a son not wise, For now he cannot stand still when children are about to be born.

14 Out of the hand of hades will I ransom them, Out of death will I redeem them,—Where is thy pestilence, O death? Where thy plague, O hades? Repentance shall be hid from mine eyes.

15 Though he among brethren be fruitful, There shall come in an east wind, The blast of Yahweh out of the desert coming up, That his spring may dry up and his fountain be exhausted, He will rob the treasure-house of all the vessels of delight.

16 Samaria shall be held guilty, for she hath rebelled against her God, By the sword shall they fall, Their infants shall be dashed to the ground, And his women with child shall be ripped up.