1 When Ephraim spoke, i there was trembling;
he was exalted in Israel. j
But he incurred guilt through Baal k and died.
and make themselves a cast image, l
idols skillfully made from their silver, m
all of them the work of craftsmen. n
People say about them,
“Let the men who sacrifice K kiss the calves.” o
3 Therefore, they will be like the morning mist, p
like the early dew that vanishes,
like chaff blown from a threshing floor, q
or like smoke from a window. r
Death and Resurrection
4 I have been the LORD your God s
ever since L the land of Egypt;
you know no God but me, t
and no Savior exists besides me. u
5 I knew M you in the wilderness, v
in the land of drought.
they became satisfied; w
they were satisfied,
and their hearts became proud. x
Therefore they forgot me. y
7 So I will be like a lion z to them;
I will lurk like a leopard a on the path.
like a bear robbed of her cubs
and tear open the rib cage over their hearts.
I will devour them there like a lioness, b
like a wild beast that would rip them open.
10 Where now is your king, O,d
that he may save you in all your cities,
and the P rulers Q,e you demanded, saying,
“Give me a king and leaders”?
11 I give you a king in my anger f
and take away a king in my wrath. g
12 Ephraim’s guilt is preserved;
his sin is stored up. h
13 Labor pains come on him. i
He is not a wise son; j
when the time comes,
14 I will ransom them from the power of Sheol.
I will redeem S them from death. l
Death, where are your barbs?
Sheol, where is your sting? m
Compassion is hidden from my eyes. n
The Coming Judgment
15 Although he flourishes among his brothers, T,o
an east wind will come, p
a wind from the LORD rising up from the desert.
His water source will fail,
and his spring will run dry. q
The wind U will plunder the treasury r
of every precious item.
16 Samaria s will bear her guilt t
because she has rebelled against her God. u
They will fall by the sword; v
their children will be dashed to pieces, w
and their pregnant women ripped open. x