13 When Ephraim spoke,(A) there was trembling;
he was exalted in Israel.(B)
But he incurred guilt through Baal(C) and died.

Now they continue to sin
and make themselves a cast image,(D)
idols skillfully made from their silver,(E)
all of them the work of craftsmen.(F)
People say about them,
“Let the men who sacrifice[a] kiss the calves.”(G)
Therefore, they will be like the morning mist,(H)
like the early dew that vanishes,
like chaff blown from a threshing floor,(I)
or like smoke from a window.(J)

Death and Resurrection

I have been Yahweh your God(K)
ever since[b] the land of Egypt;
you know no God but Me,(L)
and no Savior exists besides Me.(M)
I knew[c] you in the wilderness,(N)
in the land of drought.
When they had pasture,
they became satisfied;(O)
they were satisfied,
and their hearts became proud.(P)
Therefore they forgot Me.(Q)
So I will be like a lion(R) to them;
I will lurk like a leopard(S) on the path.
I will attack them
like a bear robbed of her cubs
and tear open the rib cage over their hearts.
I will devour them there like a lioness,(T)
like a wild beast that would rip them open.
I will destroy you, Israel;
you have no help but Me.[d](U)

10 Where now is your king,[e](V)
that he may save you in all your cities,
and the[f] rulers[g](W) you demanded, saying,
“Give me a king and leaders”?
11 I give you a king in My anger(X)
and take away a king in My wrath.(Y)
12 Ephraim’s guilt is preserved;
his sin is stored up.(Z)
13 Labor pains come on him.(AA)
He is not a wise son;(AB)
when the time comes,
he will not be born.[h](AC)

14 I will ransom them from the power of Sheol.
I will redeem[i] them from death.(AD)
Death, where are your barbs?
Sheol, where is your sting?(AE)
Compassion is hidden from My eyes.(AF)

The Coming Judgment

15 Although he flourishes among his brothers,[j](AG)
an east wind will come,(AH)
a wind from the Lord rising up from the desert.
His water source will fail,
and his spring will run dry.(AI)
The wind[k] will plunder the treasury(AJ)
of every precious item.

16 [l]Samaria(AK) will bear her guilt(AL)
because she has rebelled against her God.(AM)
They will fall by the sword;(AN)
their little ones will be dashed to pieces,(AO)
and their pregnant women ripped open.(AP)

Footnotes

  1. Hosea 13:2 Or Those who make human sacrifices
  2. Hosea 13:4 DSS, LXX read God who brought you out of
  3. Hosea 13:5 LXX, Syr read fed
  4. Hosea 13:9 LXX reads At your destruction, Israel, who will help you?
  5. Hosea 13:10 LXX, Syr, Vg; MT reads I will be your king
  6. Hosea 13:10 Lit your
  7. Hosea 13:10 Or judges
  8. Hosea 13:13 Lit he will not present himself at the opening of the womb for sons
  9. Hosea 13:14 Or Should I ransom . . . Should I redeem . . . ?
  10. Hosea 13:15 Or among reeds
  11. Hosea 13:15 Probably the Assyrian king
  12. Hosea 13:16 Hs 14:1 in Hb

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