LEB(i)
1 When Ephraim spoke,* there was terror; he was exalted in Israel, but he incurred guilt through Baal and died.
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.
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.
4 I am Yahweh your God since* the land of Egypt; you know no god except me, and no one saves besides me.
5 I fed you* in the desert, in the land of drought.
6 When I fed them,* they were satisfied; they were satisfied and their heart was lifted up; therefore they forgot me.
7 And I will be like a lion to them; I lie in wait beside the way, like a leopard.
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.
9 I will destroy you,* O Israel; who will help you?*
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?"
11 I gave you a king in my anger, and I took him in my wrath.
12 The sin of Ephraim is wrapped up; his sin is concealed.
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⌋.*
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.
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.
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.