Hosea 13
Modern English Version
God’s Unrelenting Judgment on Israel
13 When Ephraim spoke, trembling,
he was exalted in Israel.
But he incurred guilt through Baal worship and he died.
2 And now they continue sinning
and have made a cast image for themselves,
idols of their silver, according to their understanding;
all of them the work of craftsmen.
They say of them,
“Those who sacrifice[a]
are kissing calves!”
3 Therefore they will be like the morning cloud,
or like the early dew that passes away,
like chaff blown off the threshing floor,
or like the smoke from a chimney.
4 Yet I am the Lord your God
ever since the land of Egypt.
You know no God but Me,
and there is no savior besides Me.
5 I knew[b] you in the wilderness,
in the land of great drought.
6 When they had pasture, they were satisfied.
They were satisfied, and their heart was exalted;
therefore they forgot Me.
7 So I will be like a lion to them,
like a leopard I will lurk by the path.
8 I will attack them like a bear bereaved of her cubs,
and will tear open their rib cage.
There I will devour them like a lion,
as the wild beast would tear them to pieces.
9 O Israel, you are destroyed,[c]
but in Me is your help.
10 Where now is your king
that he may save you in all your cities?
And where are 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 stored up.
13 The pains of childbirth come for him.
He is an unwise son,
for he does not present himself
at the opening of the womb.
14 I will ransom them from the power of Sheol.
I will redeem them from Death.
O Death, where are your plagues?
O Sheol, where is your sting?
Compassion is hidden from My eyes.
15 Though he be fruitful among his brothers,
the east wind will come, a wind of the Lord,
rising from the wilderness.
And his spring shall become dry,
his fountain shall be dried up.
It shall plunder his treasury
of every desirable thing.
16 Samaria will be held guilty,
for she has rebelled against her God.
They will fall by the sword,
their infants will be dashed to pieces,
and their pregnant women will be ripped open.
Footnotes
- Hosea 13:2 Or those who offer human sacrifice.
- Hosea 13:5 Or fed.
- Hosea 13:9 Heb. he has destroyed you.
Hosea 13
American Standard Version
13 When Ephraim [a]spake, there was trembling; he exalted himself in Israel; but when he [b]offended in Baal, he died. 2 And now they sin more and more, and have made them molten images of their silver, even idols according to their own understanding, all of them the work of the craftsmen: they say of them, Let [c]the men that sacrifice kiss the calves. 3 Therefore they shall be as the morning cloud, and as the dew that passeth early away, as the chaff that is driven with the whirlwind out of the threshing-floor, and as the smoke out of the chimney.
4 Yet I am Jehovah thy God from the land of Egypt; and thou [d]shalt know no god but me, and besides me there is no saviour. 5 I did know thee 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 am I unto them as a lion; as a leopard will I watch by the way; 8 I will meet them as a bear that is bereaved of her whelps, and will rend the caul of their heart; and there will I devour them like a lioness; the wild beast shall tear them.
9 [e]It is thy destruction, O Israel, [f]that thou art against me, against thy help. 10 Where now is thy king, that he may save thee in all thy cities? and thy judges, of whom thou saidst, Give me a king and princes? 11 I have given thee a king in mine anger, and have taken him away in my wrath. 12 The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up; his sin is laid up in store. 13 The sorrows of a travailing woman shall come upon him: he is an unwise son; [g]for it is time he should not tarry in the place of the breaking forth of children. 14 I will ransom them from the [h]power of Sheol; I will redeem them from death: O death, [i]where are thy plagues? O Sheol, [j]where is thy destruction? repentance shall be hid from mine eyes.
15 Though he be fruitful among his brethren, an east wind shall come, the [k]breath of Jehovah coming up from the wilderness; and his spring shall become dry, and his fountain shall be dried up: [l]he shall make spoil of the treasure of all goodly vessels. 16 Samaria shall [m]bear her guilt; for she hath 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.
Footnotes
- Hosea 13:1 Or, spake with trembling etc.
- Hosea 13:1 Or, became guilty
- Hosea 13:2 Or, the sacrificers of men
- Hosea 13:4 Or, knowest
- Hosea 13:9 Or, Thou art destroyed, O Israel; for thou etc.
- Hosea 13:9 Or, for in me, in thy help—Or, but in me is thy help
- Hosea 13:13 Or, when it is time, he standeth not in etc.
- Hosea 13:14 Hebrew hand.
- Hosea 13:14 Or, I will be
- Hosea 13:14 Or, I will be
- Hosea 13:15 Or, wind
- Hosea 13:15 Or, it
- Hosea 13:16 Or, become desolate
The Holy Bible, Modern English Version. Copyright © 2014 by Military Bible Association. Published and distributed by Charisma House.
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