Hosea 13
1 When Ephraim spake, there was trembling; he exalted himself in Israel; but
when he offended in Baal, he died.
2 And 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.
3 Therefore 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.
4 Yet 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.
5 I did know thee in the wilderness, in the land of great drought.
6 According to their pasture, so were they filled; they were filled, and their
heart was exalted: therefore have they forgotten me.
7 Therefore am I unto them as a lion; as a leopard will I watch by the way;
8 I 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.
9 It is thy destruction, O Israel, that [thou art] against me, against thy help.
10 Where 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?
11 I have given thee a king in mine anger, and have taken him away in my wrath.
12 The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up; his sin is laid up in store.
13 The 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.
14 I 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.
15 Though 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.
16 Samaria 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.