Relentless Judgment on Israel
1When Ephraim spoke, trembling,
He exalted himself in Israel;
But when he offended through Baal worship, he died.
2Now they sin more and more,
And have made for themselves molded images,
Idols of their silver, according to their skill;
All of it is the work of craftsmen.
They say of them,
“Let 13:2 Or those who offer human sacrificethe men who sacrifice 13:2 Worship with kisseskiss the calves!”
3Therefore they shall be like the morning cloud
And like the early dew that passes away,
Like chaff blown off from a threshing floor
And like smoke from a chimney.
Ever since the land of Egypt,
And you shall know no God but Me;
For there is no savior besides Me.
5I 13:5 Cared for youknew you in the wilderness,
In the land of 13:5 Lit. droughtsgreat drought.
6When they had pasture, they were filled;
They were filled and their heart was exalted;
Therefore they forgot Me.
7“So I will be to them like a lion;
Like a leopard by the road I will lurk;
8I will meet them like a bear deprived of her cubs;
I will tear open their rib cage,
And there I will devour them like a lion.
The 13:8 Lit. beast of the fieldwild beast shall tear them.
9“O Israel, 13:9 Lit. it or he destroyed youyou are destroyed,
But 13:9 Lit. in your helpyour help is from Me.
1013:10 LXX, Syr., Tg., Vg. Where is your king?I will be your King;
Where is any other,
That he may save you in all your cities?
And your judges to 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 iniquity of Ephraim is bound up;
His sin is stored up.
13The sorrows of a woman in childbirth shall come upon him.
He is an unwise son,
For he should not stay long where children are born.
I will redeem them from death.
O Death, 13:14 LXX where is your punishment?I will be your plagues!
O 13:14 Or SheolGrave, 13:14 LXX where is your sting?I will be your destruction!
Pity is hidden from My eyes.”
15Though he is fruitful among his brethren,
An east wind shall come;
The wind of the Lord shall come up from the wilderness.
Then his spring shall become dry,
And his fountain shall be dried up.
He shall plunder the treasury of every desirable prize.
16Samaria 13:16 LXX shall be disfiguredis held guilty,
For she has rebelled against her God.
They shall fall by the sword,
Their infants shall be dashed in pieces,
And their women with child ripped open.
New King James Version®, Copyright© 1982, Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.
