Hosea

Hosea, chapter 13, New English Translation and King James Version

Chapter 13 New English Translation

Baal Worshipers and Calf Worshipers to be Destroyed

   1 When Ephraim spoke, there was terror; he was exalted in Israel, but he became guilty by worshiping Baal and died.
   2 Even now they persist in sin! They make metal images for themselves, idols that they skillfully fashion from their own silver; all of them are nothing but the work of craftsmen! There is a saying about them: "Those who sacrifice to the calf idol are calf kissers!"
   3 Therefore they will disappear like the morning mist, like early morning dew that evaporates, like chaff that is blown away from a threshing floor, like smoke that disappears through an open window.

Well-Fed Israel Will Be Fed to Wild Animals

   4 But I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt. Therefore, you must not acknowledge any God but me; except me there is no Savior.
   5 I cared for you in the wilderness, in the dry desert where no water was.
   6 When they were fed, they became satisfied; when they were satisfied, they became proud; as a result, they forgot me!
   7 So I will pounce on them like a lion; like a leopard I will lurk by the path.
   8 I will attack them like a bear robbed of her cubs - I will rip open their chests. I will devour them there like a lion - like a wild animal would tear them apart.

Israel's King Unable to Deliver the Nation

   9 I will destroy you, O Israel! Who is there to help you?
   10 Where then is your king, that he may save you in all your cities? Where are your rulers for whom you asked, saying, "Give me a king and princes"?
   11 I granted you a king in my anger, and I will take him away in my wrath!

Israel's Punishment Will Not Be Withheld Much Longer

   12 The punishment of Ephraim has been decreed; his punishment is being stored up for the future.
   13 The labor pains of a woman will overtake him, but the baby will lack wisdom; when the time arrives, he will not come out of the womb!

The LORD Will Not Relent from the Threatened Judgment

   14 Will I deliver them from the power of Sheol? No, I will not! Will I redeem them from death? No, I will not! O Death, bring on your plagues! O Sheol, bring on your destruction! My eyes will not show any compassion!

The Capital of the Northern Empire Will Be Destroyed

   15 Even though he flourishes like a reed plant, a scorching east wind will come, a wind from the LORD rising up from the desert. As a result, his spring will dry up; his well will become dry. That wind will spoil all his delightful foods in the containers in his storehouse.
   16 (1) Samaria will be held guilty, because she rebelled against her God. They will fall by the sword, their infants will be dashed to the ground - their pregnant women will be ripped open.

King James Version

   1 When Ephraim spake trembling, he exalted himself in Israel; but when he offended in Baal, he died.
   2 And now they sin more and more, and have made them molten images of their silver, and 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.
   3 Therefore they shall be as the morning cloud, and as the early dew that passeth away, as the chaff that is driven with the whirlwind out of the floor, and as the smoke out of the chimney.
   4 Yet I am the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt, and thou shalt know no god but me: for there is no saviour beside me.
   5 ¶ I did know thee in the wilderness, in the land of great drought.
   6 According to their pasture, so were they filled; they were filled, and their heart was exalted; therefore have they forgotten me.
   7 Therefore I will be unto them as a lion: as a leopard by the way will I observe them:
   8 I will meet them as a bear that is bereaved of her whelps, and will rend the caul of their heart, and there will I devour them like a lion: the wild beast shall tear them.
   9 ¶ O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; but in me is thine help.
   10 I will be thy king: where is any other that may save thee in all thy cities? and thy judges of whom thou saidst, Give me a king and princes?
   11 I gave thee a king in mine anger, and took him away in my wrath.
   12 The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up; his sin is hid.
   13 The sorrows of a travailing woman shall come upon him: he is an unwise son; for he should not stay long in the place of the breaking forth of children.
   14 I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes.
   15 ¶ Though he be fruitful among his brethren, an east wind shall come, the wind of the LORD shall come 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.
   16 Samaria shall become desolate; for she hath rebelled against her God: they shall fall by the sword: their infants shall be dashed in pieces, and their women with child shall be ripped up.