| Holman Christian Standard Bible | International Standard Version |
| 1When Ephraim spoke, there was trembling; he was exalted in Israel. But he incurred guilt through Baal and died. | 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, |
| 2Now they continue to sin and make themselves a cast image, idols skillfully made from their silver, all of them the work of craftsmen. People say about them," Let the men who sacrifice kiss the calves." | 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.' |
| 3Therefore, they will be like the morning mist, like the early dew that vanishes, like chaff blown from a threshing floor, or like smoke from a window. | 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." |
| 4I have been Yahweh your God ever since the land of Egypt; you know no God but Me, and no Savior exists besides Me. | 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. |
| 5I knew you in the wilderness, in the land of drought. | 5I took care of you in the wilderness, in a waterless land. |
| 6When they had pasture, they became satisfied; they were satisfied, and their hearts became proud. Therefore they forgot Me. | 6As their pastures flourished, all their desires were met. As they were satiated, they became arrogant and therefore ignored me. |
| 7So I will be like a lion to them; I will lurk like a leopard on the path. | 7"So I will be like a lion to them. Like a leopard I will stalk them along the road. |
| 8I will attack them like a bear robbed of her cubs and tear open the rib cage over their hearts. I will devour them there like a lioness, like a wild beast that would rip them open. | 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. |
| 9I will destroy you, Israel; you have no help but Me. | 9"You have destroyed yourself, Israel, although I remain your help. |
| 10Where now is your king, that he may save you in all your cities, and the rulers you demanded, saying," Give me a king and leaders"? | 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!'? |
| 11I give you a king in My anger and take away a king in My wrath. | 11I gave you a king in my anger, and I took him away in my fury." |
| 12Ephraim's guilt is preserved; his sin is stored up. | 12"Ephraim's guilt is on record; his sin is stored away. |
| 13Labor pains come on him. He is not a wise son; when the time comes, he will not be born. | 13When the time of childbirth comes, he will be so foolish that he will refuse to be born." |
| 14I will ransom them from the power of Sheol. I will redeem them from death. Death, where are your barbs? Sheol, where is your sting? Compassion is hidden from My eyes. | 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. |
| 15Although he flourishes among his brothers, an east wind will come, a wind from the LORD rising up from the desert. His water source will fail, and his spring will run dry. The wind will plunder the treasury of every precious item. | 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. |
| 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. | 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." |
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