The Book of the Prophet Hosea 13 The Sin of Israel and its Punishment

 The Book of the Prophet Hosea 13

The Sin of Israel and its Punishment

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

2 And now they have multiplied sins, and from their silver they have made a molten image, idols according to their understanding, all the work of craftsmen, of whom they say: Let the men who sacrifice kiss the calves.

3 Therefore they will be like the morning cloud, and like the early dew that passes away: like chaff that the storm drives from the threshing floor, and like smoke from the chimney.

4 Yet I am the Lord your God from the land of Egypt; therefore you shall acknowledge no other god besides me, for there is no Savior besides me.

5 I knew you in the wilderness, in a very dry land.

6 Then they were filled according to their pasture; being filled, their heart was lifted up, therefore they forgot me.

7 I will be like a lion to them; like a leopard I will lurk by the road.

8 Like a bear that has lost its cubs, I will meet them; I will tear open the webs of their hearts; and there I will devour them like a lion; the wild beasts of the field will tear them to pieces.

9 You have rebelled against me, Israel, to your destruction, against your helper.

10 Where is your king now, to guard you in all your cities? And your judges, of 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 Pains of a woman in labor will come upon her; she is an unwise child; for it is time, and she is not in the place where she should be born.

14 I will ransom them from the violence of hell, and I will redeem them from death: where, O death, are your plagues? Where, O hell, is your destruction? Repentance will be hidden from my eyes.

15 Though he bears fruit among his brothers, the east wind, the wind of the Lord, will come up from the desert, and his spring will dry up, and his fountain will dry up: he will plunder the treasure of all desirable vessels.

16 Samaria will become desolate, because she has rebelled against her God: they will fall by the sword, their children will be dashed to pieces, and their pregnant women will be ripped open.