The people of Ephraim will be completely destroyed when it is time for me to punish them. They can be sure it will happen. I am announcing it among their tribes.

在责罚的日子，以法莲必变为荒场。’我在以色列支派中，指示将来必成的事。

到了惩罚的日子，以法莲必变为废墟；我在以色列众支派中，已指示将来必成的事。

到了惩罚的日子，以法莲必变为废墟；我在以色列众支派中，已指示将来必成的事。

以法莲啊，你要在受惩罚的日子沦为废墟！我要在以色列各支派中宣告将来必要发生的事！

在责罚的日子，以法莲必成为荒场。我要在以色列各支派中宣告一定会发生的事情。

在責罰的日子，以法蓮必變為荒場；我在以色列支派中，指示將來必成的事。

到了懲罰的日子，以法蓮必變為廢墟；我在以色列眾支派中，已指示將來必成的事。

到了懲罰的日子，以法蓮必變為廢墟；我在以色列眾支派中，已指示將來必成的事。

以法蓮啊，你要在受懲罰的日子淪為廢墟！我要在以色列各支派中宣告將來必要發生的事！

在責罰的日子，以法蓮必成為荒場。我要在以色列各支派中宣告一定會發生的事情。

在責罰的日子、以法蓮必成為荒涼；關於以色列族派所要遭受的、我如今讓人知道確定的事。

譴責之日、以法蓮將為荒涼、我在以色列支派中、示以必成之事、

患難之日、以法蓮地必變荒蕪、我以將來之事、示以色列支派、

在施刑之日、以法蓮地必變荒蕪、我在以色列支派中、示以將來必有之事、

Ephraim will be laid waste on the day of reckoning. Among the tribes of Israel I proclaim what is certain.

Ephraim shall become a desolation in the day of punishment; among the tribes of Israel I make known what is sure.

One thing is certain, Israel: On your day of punishment, you will become a heap of rubble.

Ephraim will become a desolation on the day of punishment; I announce what is certain among the tribes of Israel.

Ephraim will become a desolation in the day of rebuke; Among the tribes of Israel I make known what is trustworthy.

Ephraim shall be desolate in the day of rebuke; Among the tribes of Israel I make known what is sure.

Ephraim shall become a desolation in the day of rebuke: among the tribes of Israel have I made known that which shall surely be.

Ephraim will become a desolation on the day of punishment; I announce what is certain among the tribes of Israel.

Ephraim shall be desolate in the day of rebuke: among the tribes of Israel have I made known that which shall surely be.

Ephraim will be ruined in the day of judgment! What I am declaring to the tribes of Israel will certainly take place!

Ephraim will become a desolation in the day of rebuke. Among the tribes of Israel, I have made known that which will surely be.

Ephraim’s greatness and glory will be gone. It will fly away like a bird. Women will no longer have children. They will not be able to get pregnant.But suppose they do have children. Then I will kill every one of them. How terrible it will be for them when I turn away from them!Tyre is planted in a pleasant place. And so is Ephraim. But the Assyrians will kill Ephraim’s children.”Lord, what should you do to Ephraim’s people? Give them women whose babies die before they are born. Give them women whose breasts have no milk.The Lord says,“ My people did many evil things in Gilgal. That is why I hated them there. They committed many sins. So I will drive them out of my land. I will not love them anymore. All their leaders refuse to obey me.Ephraim is like a worthless plant. Its roots are dried up. It does not produce any fruit. Suppose Ephraim’s people have children. Then I will kill the children they love so much.”My God will turn his back on his people. They have not obeyed him. So they will wander among other nations.

Before something even happens, I announce how it will end. In fact, from times long ago I announced what was still to come. I say,‘ My plan will succeed. I will do anything I want to do.’

I commanded my servants the prophets what to say. I told them what I planned to do. But your people refused to obey me. So I had to punish them.“ Then they had a change of heart. They said,‘ The Lord who rules over all has punished us because of how we have lived. He was fair and right to do that. He has done to us just what he decided to do.’ ”

How terrible it will be for the city of Samaria! It sits on a hill like a wreath of flowers. The leaders of Ephraim are drunk. They take pride in their city. It sits above a valley that has rich soil. How terrible it will be for the glorious beauty of that fading flower!The Lord will bring the strong and powerful king of Assyria against Samaria. The Lord will throw that city down to the ground with great force. It will be like a hailstorm. It will be like a wind that destroys everything. It will be like a driving rain and a flooding storm.That city is like a wreath. The leaders of Ephraim are drunk. They take pride in their city. But its enemies will walk all over it.It sits on a hill above a rich valley. The city is like a wreath of flowers whose glorious beauty is fading away. But it will become like figs that are ripe before harvest. As soon as people see them, they pick them and swallow them.

“ Long ago I told you ahead of time what would happen. I announced it and made it known. Then all of a sudden I acted. And those things took place.

So I told you those things long ago. Before they happened I announced them to you. I did it so you would not be able to say,‘ My statues of gods did them. My wooden and metal gods made them happen.’

So the people of Israel are swallowed up. Now they are among the nations like something no one wants.

“ But they refuse to turn away from their sins. So they will return to Egypt. And Assyria will rule over them.A sword will flash in their cities. It will destroy the prophets who teach lies. It will bring an end to their plans.

Why have I told you this? So that when their time comes, you will remember that I warned you about them. I didn’t tell you this from the beginning because I was with you.

I will be like a moth to Ephraim. I will cause Judah to rot away.

“ But the Lord says,“‘ Your wife will become a prostitute in the city of Bethel. Your sons and daughters will be killed by swords. Your land will be measured and divided up. And you yourself will die in another country. The people of Israel will surely be taken away as prisoners. They will be carried off from their own land.’ ”

The Lord and King never does anything without telling his servants the prophets about it.

“ I will punish Israel for their sins. When I do, I will destroy their altars at Bethel. The horns that stick out from the upper corners of their main altar will be cut off. They will fall to the ground.I will tear down their winter houses. I will also pull down their summer houses. The houses they have decorated with ivory will be destroyed. And their princely houses will be torn down,” announces the Lord.

When the tribe of Ephraim spoke, the other tribes trembled with fear. Ephraim was honored in Israel. But its people sinned by worshiping Baal. So they were as good as dead.Now they sin more and more. They use their silver to make statues of gods for themselves. The statues come from their own clever ideas. Skilled workers make all of them. The people pray to these gods. They offer human sacrifices to them. They kiss the gods that look like calves.So these people will vanish like the morning mist. They will soon disappear like the early dew. They will be like straw that the wind blows around on a threshing floor. They will be like smoke that escapes through a window.

What he tears down can’t be rebuilt. The people he puts in prison can’t be set free.

I will be like a lion to Ephraim. I will attack Judah like a powerful lion. I will tear them to pieces. I will drag them off. Then I will leave them. No one will be able to save them.

“ The high places where Isaac’s people worship other gods will be destroyed. The other places of worship in Israel will also be torn down. I will use my sword to attack Jeroboam’s royal family.”

They told Isaiah,“ Hezekiah says,‘ Today we’re in great trouble. The Lord is warning us. He’s bringing shame on us. Sometimes babies come to the moment when they should be born. But their mothers aren’t strong enough to give birth to them. Today we are like those mothers. We aren’t strong enough to save ourselves.

Even though they are doing well among the other tribes, trouble will come to them. I will send a hot and dry wind from the east. It will blow in from the desert. Their springs will not have any water. Their wells will dry up. All their treasures will be taken out of their storerooms.The people of Samaria must pay for their sins. They have refused to obey me. They will be killed by swords. Their little children will be smashed on the ground. Their pregnant women will be ripped wide open.”