1 When Ephraim spoke, there was 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 themselves molten images of their silver, even idols according to their own understanding, all of them the work of the craftsmen. They say of them, Let the men who sacrifice kiss the ca

3 Therefore they shall be as the morning cloud, and as the dew that passes away early, as the chaff that is driven with the whirlwind out of the threshing-floor, and as the smoke out of the chimney.

4 Yet I am LORD thy God from the land of Egypt, and thou shall know no god but me, and besides me there is no savior.

5 I knew thee in the wilderness, in the land of great drought.

6 According to their pasture, so they were filled. They were filled, and their heart was exalted. Therefore they have forgotten me.

7 Therefore I am to them as a lion. As a leopard I will watch by the way.

8 I will meet them as a bear that is bereaved of her whelps, and will rend the caul of their heart. And there I will devour them like a lioness. The wild beast shall tear them.

9 It is thy destruction, O Israel, that [thou are] against me, against thy help.

10 Where now is thy king, that he may save thee in all thy cities, and thy judges, of whom thou said, Give me a king and rulers?

11 I have given thee a king in my anger, and have taken him away in my wrath.

12 The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up. His sin is laid up in store.

13 The sorrows of a travailing woman shall come upon him. He is an unwise son, for it is time he should not tarry in the place of the breaking forth of sons.

14 I will ransom them from the power of Sheol. I will redeem them from death. O death, where are thy plagues? O Sheol, where is thy sting? Repentance shall be hid from my eyes.

15 Though he be fruitful among his brothers, an east wind shall come, the breath of LORD coming up from the wilderness, and his spring shall become dry, and his fountain shall be dried up. He shall make spoil of the treasure of all go

16 Samaria shall bear her guilt, 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 shall be ripped up.