- 1
- When Ephraim spoke, there was trembling;
he exalted himself in Israel: but he trespassed through Baal, and he died.
- 2
- And now they sin more and more, and have made them molten images of their silver, idols according to their own understanding, all of it 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 early dew that passeth away, as the chaff driven with the whirlwind out of the threshing-floor, and as the smoke out of the lattice.
- 4
- Yet I [am] Jehovah thy God from the land of Egypt, and thou hast known no God but me;
and there is no saviour besides me.
- 5
- I knew thee in the wilderness, in the land of drought.
- 6
- According to their pasture, they became full;
they became full, and their heart was exalted: therefore have they forgotten me.
- 7
- And I will be unto them as a lion;
as a leopard I will lurk for them by the way;
- 8
- I will meet them as a bear bereaved of her [whelps], and will rend the covering of their heart, and there will I devour them like a lioness: the beast of the field shall tear them.
- 9
- It is thy destruction, O Israel, that [thou art] against me, against thy help.
- 10
- Where then 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 gave thee a king in mine anger, and took him away in my wrath.
- 12
- The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up;
his sin is laid by in store.
- 13
- The pangs of a woman in travail shall come upon him: he is a son not wise;
for at the time of the breaking forth of children, he was not there.
- 14
- I will ransom them from the power of Sheol.
I will redeem them from death: where, O death, are thy plagues? where, O Sheol, is thy destruction? Repentance shall be hid from mine eyes.
- 15
- Though he be fruitful among [his] brethren, an east wind shall come, a wind of Jehovah [that] cometh up from the wilderness, and his spring shall become dry, and his fountain shall be dried up: he shall spoil the treasure of all pleasant 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.
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