LEB - Hosea - 13

13:1  When Ephraim spoke, there was terror; he was exalted in Israel, but he incurred guilt through Baal and died.

13:2  And now they sin again, and they make for themselves a molten idol, idols from their silver metal according to their understanding, all of them the work of skilled craftsmen. To these they say, “Sacrifice!” People are kissing bull calves.

13:3  Therefore, they will be like the morning cloud, and like the dew of early morning going away, like chaff swirling from the threshing floor, or like smoke from a window.

13:4  I am Yahweh your God since the land of Egypt; you know no god except me, and no one saves besides me.

13:5  I fed you in the desert, in the land of drought.

13:6  When I fed them, they were satisfied; they were satisfied and their heart was lifted up; therefore they forgot me.

13:7  And I will be like a lion to them; I lie in wait beside the way, like a leopard.

13:8  I will attack them like a bear robbed of her offspring, and I will tear open the covering of their heart; there I will devour them like a lion, like an animal of the field would mutilate them.

13:9  I will destroy you, O Israel; who will help you?

13:10  Where now is your king that he may save you? Where in all your cities are your judges, of whom you said, “Give to me a king and rulers?”

13:11  I gave you a king in my anger, and I took him in my wrath.

13:12  The sin of Ephraim is wrapped up; his sin is concealed.

13:13  The labor pains of childbirth come for him; he is an unwise son because at the proper time, he does not present himself ⌞at the mouth of the womb⌟.

13:14  Should I redeem them from ⌞the power⌟ of Sheol? Should I deliver them from death? Where are your plagues, O Death? Where is your destruction, O Sheol? Compassion is hidden from my eyes.

13:15  Although he may flourish among reeds, the east wind will come, a wind of Yahweh rising from the desert; his fountain will dry up, his spring will be parched. It will plunder his treasury, every object of desire.

13:16  Samaria will be guilty, 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.