Hosea 13
Expanded Bible
The Final Word Against Israel
13 ·People used to fear the tribe of Ephraim [L When Ephraim spoke, there was trembling];
they were ·important people [L exalted] in Israel.
But they sinned by worshiping Baal,
·so they must die [L and died].
2 But they still keep on sinning more and more.
They make ·idols of their silver [metal images],
idols that are ·cleverly [skillfully] made,
the work of a craftsman.
·Yet the people of Israel say to each other [or It is said of them],
“·Kiss those calf idols and sacrifice to them [or Those who sacrifice to the calf idol are calf kissers!; or They offer human sacrifices and kiss calf-idols].”
3 So those people will be like the morning mist;
they will disappear like the morning dew.
They will be like chaff ·blown [that swirls away] from the threshing floor,
like smoke going out a window.
4 “I, the Lord, have been your God
since you were in the land of Egypt.
You ·should have known no [must not acknowledge any] other God except me [Ex. 20:3].
·I am the only one who saves [L There is no savior but me].
5 I ·cared for them [L knew you] in the ·desert [wilderness]
·where it was hot and dry [in the land of drought].
6 I gave them ·food [pasture], and they became full and satisfied.
But then they became too proud and forgot me.
7 That is why I will be like a lion to them,
like a leopard ·waiting [lurking] by the ·road [path].
8 I will ·attack [meet them] like a bear robbed of her cubs,
ripping their ·bodies [chest] open.
I will devour them like a lion
and tear them apart like a wild animal.
9 “Israel, I will destroy you.
·Who will be your helper then [or …because you are against me, your helper]?
10 ·What good [L Where] is your king?
Can he save you in any of your towns?
·What good are [L Where are] your leaders
about whom you said, ‘Give us a king and leaders’?
11 So I gave you a king, but only in anger,
and I took him away in my ·great anger [wrath].
12 The ·sins [guilt; iniquity] of Israel are ·on record [bound up in a scroll],
stored away, waiting for punishment.
13 The pain of birth will come for him,
but he is like a ·foolish [senseless; unwise] baby
who won’t come out of its mother’s womb.
14 Will I save them from ·the place of the dead [the power of the grave; L the hand of Sheol]?
Will I ·rescue [redeem] them from death?
·Where are [or Bring on…!] your plagues, death?
·Where is [or Bring on…!] your ·pain [destruction], ·place of death [O grave]?
·I will show them no mercy [L Pity/compassion is hidden from my eyes].
15 ·Israel is doing well among the nations [L He is fruitful among his brothers],
but the Lord will send a wind from the east,
coming from the ·desert [wilderness],
that will dry up his springs and wells of water.
He will ·destroy [plunder] from their treasure houses ·everything of value [every precious/desirable thing].
16 ·The nation of Israel [L Samaria; 10:5] will ·be ruined [or bear its guilt],
because it ·fought [rebelled] against God.
·The people of Israel will die in war [L They will fall by the sword];
their ·children [infants; little ones] will be ·torn to [dashed in] pieces,
and their pregnant women will be ripped open.”
Hosea 13
New American Standard Bible
Ephraim’s Idolatry
13 (A)When Ephraim [a]spoke, there was trembling.
He (B)exalted himself in Israel,
But through (C)Baal he incurred guilt and died.
2 And now they sin more and more,
And make for themselves (D)cast metal images,
Idols [b](E)skillfully made from their silver,
All of them the (F)work of craftsmen.
They say of them, “Let the [c]people who sacrifice kiss the (G)calves!”
3 Therefore they will be like the (H)morning cloud
And like dew which [d]soon disappears,
Like (I)chaff which is blown away from the threshing floor,
And like (J)smoke from a chimney.
4 Yet I have been the (K)Lord your God
Since the land of Egypt;
And you were not to know (L)any god except Me,
For there is no savior (M)besides Me.
5 I [e](N)cared for you in the wilderness,
(O)In the land of drought.
6 As they had their pasture, they became (P)satisfied,
And as they became satisfied, their (Q)heart became proud;
Therefore they (R)forgot Me.
7 So I will be (S)like a lion to them;
Like a (T)leopard I will [f]lie in wait by the wayside.
8 I will confront them (U)like a bear deprived of her cubs,
And I will tear open [g]their chests;
I will also (V)devour them there like a lioness,
As a wild animal would tear them to pieces.
9 [h]It is to your own destruction, Israel,
That you are (W)against Me, against your (X)help.
10 Where then is your (Y)king,
That he might save you in all your cities;
And your (Z)judges, to whom you said,
“Give me a king and princes”?
11 I (AA)gave you a king in My anger,
And (AB)took him away in My wrath.
12 The guilt of Ephraim is wrapped up;
His sin is (AC)stored up.
13 The pains of (AD)childbirth come on him;
He is (AE)not a wise son,
For [i]it is not the time that he should (AF)delay at the opening of the womb.
14 Shall I (AG)ransom them from the [j]power of Sheol?
Shall I redeem them from death?
(AH)Death, where are your [k]thorns?
Sheol, where is your sting?
(AI)Compassion will be hidden from My sight.
15 Though he (AJ)flourishes among the [l]reeds,
An (AK)east wind will come,
The wind of the Lord coming up from the wilderness;
And his fountain will (AL)become dry
And his spring will dry up;
It will (AM)plunder his treasury of every precious article.
16 [m]Samaria will pay the penalty for her (AN)guilt,
Because she has (AO)rebelled against her God.
(AP)They will fall by the (AQ)sword,
Their children will be [n](AR)slaughtered,
And their pregnant (AS)women will be ripped open.
Footnotes
- Hosea 13:1 Or spoke with trembling, he exalted
- Hosea 13:2 Or according to their skill
- Hosea 13:2 Lit sacrificers of; or among mankind
- Hosea 13:3 Lit goes away early
- Hosea 13:5 Or knew
- Hosea 13:7 Or watch
- Hosea 13:8 Lit the enclosure of their heart
- Hosea 13:9 Lit It has destroyed you
- Hosea 13:13 Lit it is the time that he should not remain at the opening of children
- Hosea 13:14 Lit hand
- Hosea 13:14 Or stings
- Hosea 13:15 Another reading is brothers
- Hosea 13:16 Ch 14:1 in Heb
- Hosea 13:16 Lit shattered
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New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
