When Ephraim spake
trembling
, he exalted
himself in Israel
; but when he offended
in Baal
, he died
.
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
.
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
.
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
.
I did know thee in the wilderness
, in the land
of great drought
.
According to their pasture, so were they filled
; they were filled
, and their heart
was exalted
; therefore have they forgotten
me.
Therefore I will be unto them as a lion: as a leopard
by the way
will I observe
them :
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.
O Israel, thou hast destroyed
thyself; but in me is thine help
.
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
?
I gave thee a king
in mine anger
, and took
him away in my wrath
.
The iniquity of Ephraim
is bound up
; his sin
is hid
.
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
.
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
.
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
.
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
.