1When Ephraim spoke, there was trembling; he exalted himself in Israel: but he trespassed through Baal, and he died.

2And now they sin more and more, and have made them molten images of their silver, idols according to their own understanding, all of it the work of the craftsmen: they say of them, Let the men that sacrifice kiss the calves.

3Therefore they shall be as the morning cloud, and as the early dew that passeth away, as the chaff driven with the whirlwind out of the threshing-floor, and as the smoke out of the lattice.

4Yet I [am] Jehovah thy ²⁴God from the land of Egypt, and thou hast known no ²⁵God but me; and there is no saviour besides me.

5I knew thee in the wilderness, in the land of drought.

6According to their pasture, they became full; they became full, and their heart was exalted: therefore have they forgotten me.

7And I will be unto them as a lion; as a leopard I will lurk for them by the way;

8I will meet them as a bear bereaved of her [whelps], and will rend the covering of their heart, and there will I devour them like a lioness: the beast of the field shall tear them.

9It is thy destruction, O Israel, that [thou art] against me, against thy help.

10Where then is thy king, that he may save thee in all thy cities? and thy judges of whom thou saidst, Give me a king and princes? —

11I gave thee a king in mine anger, and took him away in my wrath.

12The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up; his sin is laid by in store.

13The pangs of a woman in travail shall come upon him: he is a son not wise; for at the time of the breaking forth of children, he was not there.

14I will ransom them from the power of Sheol. I will redeem them from death: where, O death, are thy plagues? where, O Sheol, is thy destruction? Repentance shall be hid from mine eyes.

15Though he be fruitful among [his] brethren, an east wind shall come, a wind of Jehovah [that] cometh up from the wilderness, and his spring shall become dry, and his fountain shall be dried up: he shall spoil the treasure of all pleasant vessels.

16Samaria shall bear her guilt; for she hath rebelled against her ²⁶God: they shall fall by the sword; their infants shall be dashed in pieces, and their women with child shall be ripped up.