| International Standard Version | NET Bible |
| 1"When the tribe of Ephraim spoke, there was trembling; and it was exalted within Israel. But when they offended God by Baal, they died, | 1When Ephraim spoke, there was terror; he was exalted in Israel, but he became guilty by worshiping Baal and died. |
| 2but now they are sinning more and more, crafting idols from melted silver. Their idols are made with the most exacting skill, all of it the work of craftsmen. People say about them, 'They offer human sacrifice, and kiss calf-shaped idols.' | 2Even now they persist in sin! They make metal images for themselves, idols that they skillfully fashion from their own silver; all of them are nothing but the work of craftsmen! There is a saying about them: "Those who sacrifice to the calf idol are calf kissers!" |
| 3Therefore they will be like morning clouds, like early morning dew that evaporates, like chaff blown away from the threshing floor, or like smoke from a chimney." | 3Therefore they will disappear like the morning mist, like early morning dew that evaporates, like chaff that is blown away from a threshing floor, like smoke that disappears through an open window. |
| 4"I am the LORD your God from the land of Egypt, and you have known no god except for me, because except for me there is no savior. | 4But I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt. Therefore, you must not acknowledge any God but me; except me there is no Savior. |
| 5I took care of you in the wilderness, in a waterless land. | 5I cared for you in the wilderness, in the dry desert where no water was. |
| 6As their pastures flourished, all their desires were met. As they were satiated, they became arrogant and therefore ignored me. | 6When they were fed, they became satisfied; when they were satisfied, they became proud; as a result, they forgot me! |
| 7"So I will be like a lion to them. Like a leopard I will stalk them along the road. | 7So I will pounce on them like a lion; like a leopard I will lurk by the path. |
| 8I will confront them like a bear deprived of her cubs; I will tear open their ribs. I will devour them like a lion— the wild beasts will rip them apart. | 8I will attack them like a bear robbed of her cubs--I will rip open their chests. I will devour them there like a lion--like a wild animal would tear them apart. |
| 9"You have destroyed yourself, Israel, although I remain your help. | 9I will destroy you, O Israel! Who is there to help you? |
| 10Now where is your king? Will he save you in all your cities? And where are your judges, about whom you demanded, 'Give me a king and officials!'? | 10Where then is your king, that he may save you in all your cities? Where are your rulers for whom you asked, saying, "Give me a king and princes"? |
| 11I gave you a king in my anger, and I took him away in my fury." | 11I granted you a king in my anger, and I will take him away in my wrath! |
| 12"Ephraim's guilt is on record; his sin is stored away. | 12The punishment of Ephraim has been decreed; his punishment is being stored up for the future. |
| 13When the time of childbirth comes, he will be so foolish that he will refuse to be born." | 13The labor pains of a woman will overtake him, but the baby will lack wisdom; when the time arrives, he will not come out of the womb! |
| 14"From the power of Sheol I will rescue them, from death I will redeem them. Death, where are your plagues? Sheol, where is your destruction? My eyes will remain closed to your pleas for compassion. | 14Will I deliver them from the power of Sheol? No, I will not! Will I redeem them from death? No, I will not! O Death, bring on your plagues! O Sheol, bring on your destruction! My eyes will not show any compassion! |
| 15Even though he is fruitful compared to his relatives, an east wind will come, the LORD's wind storm from the wilderness, and his spring will evaporate. His fountain will dry up, and the LORD's wind storm will plunder all the expensive vessels of the treasury. | 15Even though he flourishes like a reed plant, a scorching east wind will come, a wind from the LORD rising up from the desert. As a result, his spring will dry up; his well will become dry. That wind will spoil all his delightful foods in the containers in his storehouse. |
| 16 Samaria will be held guilty, because she has rebelled against her God. By the sword they will fall— with their infants dashed to pieces, and their pregnant women torn open." | 16Samaria will be held guilty, because she rebelled against her God. They will fall by the sword, their infants will be dashed to the ground--their pregnant women will be ripped open. |
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