1When Ephraim spoke, people trembled; he exalted himself in Israel; but when he offended by worshipping Baal, he died (spiritually). 2And now they sin more and more, and have made themselves melted images out of their silver, and idols according to their own delusions, all of it the work of the craftsmen. It is said of them that they offer human sacrifices! And they kiss the calf-idols! 3Therefore, they shall be like the morning mist, and like the early dew that disappears, like chaff that is driven by the whirlwind from the floor, and like smoke from a chimney. 4“But I have been the LORD, your God, since you left the land of Egypt, and you shall know no god but Me; for there is no Savior beside Me. 5I cared for you in the wilderness, in the land of drought and burning heat. 6But when I had fed them, they became satisfied, and prideful, and they have forgotten Me. 7Therefore, I will be to them like a lion; or like a leopard lurking by the way, I will observe them: 8I will meet them like a bear robbed of her cubs, and will tear and devour them like a lion; like a wild beast I shall tear them.

9“O Israel, you have destroyed yourself because you rebel against Me, your Helper. 10 Where is your king; any city officials that might save you? - Those of whom you said, ‘Give me a king and princes’ 11I gave you a king in My anger, and took him away in My wrath.

12“The guilt of Ephraim is piling up; his sins are kept on record. 13The pains of a woman in labor shall come upon him. He acts like an unwise son; for when the time of his birth arrives, he lacks the sense to even come out of the womb. 14I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death. Where, O death, are your plagues; O grave, where is your destruction? I will not have pity on them.”

15Even though he appears prosperous among his brothers, an east wind shall come; the wind of the LORD shall come up from the desert, and his spring shall fail, and his fountain shall be dried up; his storehouse of treasure shall be plundered. 16The people of Samaria must bear their guilt; for they have rebelled against their God. They shall fall by the sword; their infants shall be dashed in pieces, and their women with child shall be ripped up.