Terrible Judgment Against Israel
1   When Ephraim spoke trembling, he exalted himself in Israel; but when he offended through Baal worship, 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 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 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 shall know no god but me: for there is no savior besides 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 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 cubs, and will tear the fat of their heart, and there will I devour them like a lion: the wild beast shall 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 whom you said, Give me a king and princes?
11   I gave you a king in my 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 where children are born.
14   I will ransom them from the power of hell; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be your plagues; O hell, I will be your destruction: pity shall be hid from my eyes.
15  Though he is 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   plunder  the treasury of  every precious thing.
16   Samaria shall become desolate; for she has 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.