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 for 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 man who sacrifices kiss the calves.

3 Therefore they will be as the morning cloud, and as the dew that passes early away, 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 Yahweh your God from the land of Egypt; and you will know no god but me, and besides me there is no savior.

5 I knew you 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 will tear them.

9 It is your destruction, O Israel, that [you are] against me, against your help.

10 Where now is your king, that he may save you in all your cities? And your judges, of whom you said, Give me a king and princes?

11 I have given you 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 will 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, I will be your plague. O Sheol, I will be your destruction. Repentance will be hid from my eyes.

15 Though he is fruitful among his brothers, an east wind will come, the breath of Yahweh coming up from the wilderness; and his spring will become dry, and his fountain will be dried up: he will make spoil of the treasure of all goodly vessels.

16 Samaria will bear her guilt; for she has rebelled against her God: they will fall by the sword; their infants will be dashed in pieces, and their pregnant women will be ripped up.