Hosea 13

1When Ephraim spoke, there was trembling; he was exalted in Israel. But he became guilty through Baal and died.

2And now they keep on sinning: they make cast images for themselves from their silver, idols made according to their own skill—all of it the work of craftsmen. Of them they say, “Those who sacrifice human beings kiss calves.”

3Therefore they will be like the morning cloud, and like the dew that goes away early, like chaff whirled from the threshing floor, and like smoke from a window.

4But I am Yahweh your God from the land of Egypt; you know no God besides me, and there is no savior except me.

5I knew you in the wilderness, in a land of severe drought.

6As their pasture, they were satisfied; they were satisfied, and their heart was lifted up; therefore they forgot me.

7So I became to them like a lion; like a leopard I lurked by the way.

8I will attack them like a bear robbed of her cubs, and I will tear open the enclosure of their heart; there I will devour them like a lioness; a wild beast of the field will rip them apart.

9You have destroyed yourself, Israel, because your help is in me.

10Where now is your king, that he may save you in all your cities, and your judges, of whom you said, “Give me a king and princes”?

11I gave you a king in my anger, and I took him away in my wrath.

12Ephraim’s iniquity is bound up; his sin is stored up.

13The labor pains of a woman giving birth come upon him; he is an unwise son, for at the proper time he does not present himself at the opening of the womb.

14From the hand of Sheol I will ransom them; from death I will redeem them. O Death, where are your plagues? O Sheol, where is your destruction? Compassion will be hidden from my eyes.

15Though he may flourish among his brothers, an east wind will come—the wind of Yahweh, rising from the wilderness—and his spring will dry up, and his fountain will be dried out; it will plunder the storehouse of every precious vessel.