| Chapter 13 |
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. |