| Berean Study Bible | New International Version |
| 1When Ephraim spoke, there was trembling; he was exalted in Israel. But he incurred guilt through Baal, and he died. | 1When Ephraim spoke, people trembled; he was exalted in Israel. But he became guilty of Baal worship and died. |
| 2Now they sin more and more and make for themselves cast images, idols skillfully made from their silver, all of them the work of craftsmen. People say of them, “They offer human sacrifice and kiss the calves!” | 2Now they sin more and more; they make idols for themselves from their silver, cleverly fashioned images, all of them the work of craftsmen. It is said of these people, "They offer human sacrifices! They kiss calf-idols!" |
| 3Therefore they will be like the morning mist, like the early dew that vanishes, like chaff blown from a threshing floor, like smoke through an open window. | 3Therefore they will be like the morning mist, like the early dew that disappears, like chaff swirling from a threshing floor, like smoke escaping through a window. |
| 4Yet I am the LORD your God ever since the land of Egypt; you know no God but Me, for there is no Savior besides Me. | 4"But I have been the LORD your God ever since you came out of Egypt. You shall acknowledge no God but me, no Savior except me. |
| 5I knew you in the wilderness, in the land of drought. | 5I cared for you in the wilderness, in the land of burning heat. |
| 6When they had pasture, they became satisfied; when they were satisfied, their hearts became proud, and as a result they forgot Me. | 6When I fed them, they were satisfied; when they were satisfied, they became proud; then they forgot me. |
| 7So like a lion I will pounce on them; like a leopard I will lurk by the path. | 7So I will be like a lion to them, like a leopard I will lurk by the path. |
| 8Like a bear robbed of her cubs I will attack them, and I will tear open their chests. There I will devour them like a lion, like a wild beast would tear them apart. | 8Like a bear robbed of her cubs, I will attack them and rip them open; like a lion I will devour them-- a wild animal will tear them apart. |
| 9You are destroyed, O Israel, because you are against Me—against your helper. | 9"You are destroyed, Israel, because you are against me, against your helper. |
| 10Where is your king now to save you in all your cities, and the rulers to whom you said, “Give me a king and princes”? | 10Where is your king, that he may save you? Where are your rulers in all your towns, of whom you said, 'Give me a king and princes'? |
| 11So in My anger I gave you a king, and in My wrath I took him away. | 11So in my anger I gave you a king, and in my wrath I took him away. |
| 12The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up; his sin is stored up. | 12The guilt of Ephraim is stored up, his sins are kept on record. |
| 13Labor pains come upon him, but he is an unwise son. When the time arrives, he fails to present himself at the opening of the womb. | 13Pains as of a woman in childbirth come to him, but he is a child without wisdom; when the time arrives, he doesn't have the sense to come out of the womb. |
| 14I will ransom them from the power of Sheol; I will redeem them from Death. Where, O Death, are your plagues? Where, O Sheol, is your sting? Compassion is hidden from My eyes. | 14"I will deliver this people from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death. Where, O death, are your plagues? Where, O grave, is your destruction? "I will have no compassion, |
| 15Although he flourishes among his brothers, an east wind will come—a wind from the LORD rising up from the desert. His fountain will fail, and his spring will run dry. The wind will plunder his treasury of every precious article. | 15even though he thrives among his brothers. An east wind from the LORD will come, blowing in from the desert; his spring will fail and his well dry up. His storehouse will be plundered of all its treasures. |
| 16Samaria will bear her guilt because she has rebelled against her God. They will fall by the sword; their little ones will be dashed to pieces, and their pregnant women ripped open. | 16The people of Samaria must bear their guilt, because they have rebelled against their God. They will fall by the sword; their little ones will be dashed to the ground, their pregnant women ripped open." |
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