1 When Ephraim spake 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 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.
3 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.
4 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.
5 I did know thee in the wilderness, in the land of great
drought.
6 According to their pasture, so were they filled; they were
filled, and their heart was exalted; therefore have they
forgotten me.
7 Therefore I will be unto them as a lion: as a leopard by the
way will I observe them:
8 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.
9 O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; but in me is thine
help.
10 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?
11 I gave thee a king in mine anger, and took him away in my
wrath.
12 The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up; his sin is hid.
13 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.
14 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.
15 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.
16 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.
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