¹ When Ephraim spoke 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 will be as the morning cloud, and as the early dew that passes 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 your God from the land of Egypt, and you will know no god but me: for there is no saviour beside me. ⁵ I did know you 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 to 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 will tear them. ⁹ O Israel, you have destroyed yourself; but in me is your help. ¹⁰ I will be your king: where is any other that may save you in all your cities? and your judges of who you said, Give me a king and princes? ¹¹ I gave you 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 labouring woman will come on him: he is an unwise son for he should not stay long in the place of the breaking forward of children. ¹⁴ I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be your plagues; O grave, I will be your destruction: repentance will be hid from my eyes. ¹⁵ though he be fruitful among his brothers, an east wind will come, the wind of the LORD will come up from the wilderness, and his spring will become dry, and his fountain will be dried up: he will spoil the treasure of all pleasant vessels. ¹⁶ Samaria will become desolate; for she has rebelled against her God: they will fall by the sword: their infants will be dashed in pieces, and their women with child will be ripped up.