¹² Therefore I am like a ^(A)moth to Ephraim,
And like rottenness to the house of Judah.
¹³ When Ephraim saw his sickness,
And Judah his ^[a]sore,
Ephraim then went to ^(B)Assyria
And sent word to ^[b](C)King Jareb.
But he is ^(D)unable to heal you,
Or to cure you of your ^[c]sore.
¹⁴ For I will be ^(E)like a lion to Ephraim
And like a young lion to the house of Judah.
^(F)I, yes I, will tear to pieces and go away,
I will carry away, and there will be ^(G)no one to rescue.
¹⁵ I will go away and return to My place
Until they ^[d](H)acknowledge their guilt and seek My face;
In their distress they will ^(I)search for Me.

⁷ So I will be ^(A)like a lion to them;
Like a ^(B)leopard I will ^[a]lie in wait by the wayside.
⁸ I will confront them ^(C)like a bear deprived of her cubs,
And I will tear open ^[b]their chests;
I will also ^(D)devour them there like a lioness,
As a wild animal would tear them to pieces.

^9 [c]It is to your own destruction, Israel,
That you are ^(E)against Me, against your ^(F)help.
¹⁰ Where then is your ^(G)king,
That he might save you in all your cities;
And your ^(H)judges, to whom you said,
“Give me a king and princes”?
¹¹ I ^(I)gave you a king in My anger,
And ^(J)took him away in My wrath.