1
When Ephraim spoke, trembling, He exalted himself in Israel; But when he offended through Baal worship, he died.
2
Now they sin more and more, And have made for themselves molded images, Idols of their silver, according to their skill; All of it is the work of craftsmen. They say of them, "Let the men who sacrifice kiss the calves!"
3
Therefore they shall be like the morning cloud And like the early dew that passes away, Like chaff blown off from a threshing floor And like smoke from a chimney.
4
"Yet I am the Lord your God Ever since the land of Egypt, And you shall know no God but Me; For there is no Savior besides Me.
5
I knew you in the wilderness, In the land of great drought.
6
When they had pasture, they were filled; They were filled and their heart was exalted; Therefore they forgot Me.
7
"So I will be to them like a lion; Like a leopard by the road I will lurk;
8
I will meet them like a bear deprived of her cubs; I will tear open their rib cage, And there I will devour them like a lion. The wild beast shall tear them.
9
"O Israel, you are destroyed, But your help is from Me.
10
I will be your King; Where is any other, That he may save you in all your cities? And your judges to whom you said, 'Give me a king and princes'?
11
I gave you a king in My anger, And took him away in My wrath.
12
"The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up; His sin is stored up.
13
The sorrows of a woman in childbirth shall come upon him. He is an unwise son, For he should not stay long where children are born.