Hosea 13
When Ephraim spoke, men trembled — but he sinned through Baal and died. They continue to sin, making molten images. Therefore the LORD will be to them like a lion, like a leopard, like a bear robbed of her cubs. "O Israel, you have destroyed yourself, but in Me is your help." The LORD will ransom them from the power of the grave and redeem them from death.
| v | King James Version | Modern English |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | When Ephraim spake trembling, he exalted himself in Israel; but when he offended in Baal, he died. | When Ephraim spoke, men trembled; He was exalted in Israel. But He became guilty of Baal worship and died. |
| 2 | And now they sin more and more, and have made them molten images of their silver, and 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. | Now they sin more and more; they make cast idols from their silver, cleverly fashioned images — all of them the work of craftsmen. It is said of these people, "They offer human sacrifices and kiss the calf-idols." |
| 3 | Therefore they shall be as the morning cloud, and as the early dew that passeth away, as the chaff that is driven with the whirlwind out of the floor, and as the smoke out of the chimney. | Therefore they will be like the morning mist, like the early dew that disappears, like chaff swirling from a threshing floor, like smoke escaping through a window. |
| 4 | Yet I am the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt, and thou shalt know no god but me: for there is no saviour beside me. | But I am the LORD Your God, Who brought You out of Egypt. You shall acknowledge no God but Me, no Savior except Me. |
| 5 | I did know thee in the wilderness, in the land of great drought. | I cared for You in the desert, in the land of burning heat. |
| 6 | According to their pasture, so were they filled; they were filled, and their heart was exalted; therefore have they forgotten me. | When I fed them, they were satisfied; when they were satisfied, they became proud; then they forgot Me. |
| 7 | Therefore I will be unto them as a lion: as a leopard by the way will I observe them: | So I will be like a lion to them, like a leopard I will lurk by the path. |
| 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 lion: the wild beast shall tear them. | Like a bear robbed of her cubs, I will attack them and rip them open; like a lion I will devour them — a wild animal will tear them apart. |
| 9 | O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; but in me is thine help. | You are destroyed, O Israel, because you are against Me, against your helper. |
| 10 | I will be thy king: where is any other that may save thee in all thy cities? and thy judges of whom thou saidst, Give me a king and princes? | Where is Your king, that He may save You? Where are Your rulers in all Your towns, of whom You said, "Give me a king and princes"? |
| 11 | I gave thee a king in mine anger, and took him away in my wrath. | So in My anger I gave You a king, and in My wrath I took Him away. |
| 12 | The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up; his sin is hid. | The guilt of Ephraim is stored up; His sins are kept on record. |
| 13 | The sorrows of a travailing woman shall come upon him: he is an unwise son; for he should not stay long in the place of the breaking forth of children. | Pains as of a woman in childbirth come to him, but he is a child without wisdom; when the time arrives, He does not come to the opening of the womb. |
| 14 | I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes. | I will deliver this people from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death. O death, I will be Your plagues; O grave, I will be Your destruction. I will have no compassion. |
| 15 | Though he be fruitful among his brethren, an east wind shall come, the wind of the LORD shall come 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. | Even though He thrives among His brothers, an east wind from the LORD will come, blowing in from the desert. His spring will fail and His well dry up. His storehouse will be plundered of all its treasures. |
| 16 | Samaria shall become desolate; 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. | The people of Samaria must bear their guilt, because they have rebelled against their God. They will fall by the sword; their little ones will be dashed to the ground, their pregnant women ripped open. |