1When Ephraim spoke,a there was trembling;

he was exalted in Israel.b

But he incurred •guilt through •Baalc and died.

2Now they continue to sin

and make themselves a cast image,d

idols skillfully made from their silver,e

all of them the work of craftsmen.f

People say about them,

“Let the men who sacrificeg kiss the calves.”h

3Therefore, they will be like the morning mist,i

like the early dew that vanishes,

like chaff blown from a threshing floor,j

or like smoke from a window.k

Death and Resurrection

4I have been •Yahweh your Godl

ever sincem the land of Egypt;

you know no God but Me,n

and no Savior exists besides Me.o

5I knewp you in the wilderness,q

in the land of drought.

6When they had pasture,

they became satisfied;r

they were satisfied,

and their hearts became proud.s

Therefore they forgot Me.t

7So I will be like a lionu to them;

I will lurk like a leopardv on the path.

8I will attack them

like a bear robbed of her cubs

and tear open the rib cage over their hearts.

I will devour them there like a lioness,w

like a wild beast that would rip them open.

9I will destroy you, Israel;

you have no help but Me.x, y

10Where now is your king,z, aa

that he may save you in all your cities,

and theab rulersac, ad you demanded, saying,

“Give me a king and leaders”?

11I give you a king in My angerae

and take away a king in My wrath.af

12Ephraim’s guilt is preserved;

his sin is stored up.ag

13Labor pains come on him.ah

He is not a wise son;ai

when the time comes,

he will not be born.aj, ak

14I will ransom them from the power of •Sheol.

I will redeemal them from death.am

Death, where are your barbs?

Sheol, where is your sting?an

Compassion is hidden from My eyes.ao

The Coming Judgment

15Although he flourishes among his brothers,ap, aq

an east wind will come,ar

a wind from the LORD rising up from the desert.

His water source will fail,

and his spring will run dry.as

The windat will plunder the treasuryau

of every precious item.

16avSamariaaw will bear her guiltax

because she has rebelled against her God.ay

They will fall by the sword;az

their little ones will be dashed to pieces,ba

and their pregnant women ripped open.bb