11 Ephraim’s glory will fly away like a bird:(A)
no birth, no gestation, no conception.(B)
12 Even if they raise children,
I will bereave them of each one.
Yes, woe to them when I depart from them!(C)
13 I have seen Ephraim like Tyre,(D)
planted in a meadow,
so Ephraim will bring out his children
to the executioner.
14 Give them, Lord
What should You give?
Give them a womb that miscarries
and breasts that are dry!(E)

15 All their evil appears at Gilgal,(F)
for there I came to hate them.
I will drive them from My house
because of their evil, wicked actions.(G)
I will no longer love them;
all their leaders are rebellious.(H)
16 Ephraim(I) is struck down;
their roots are withered;
they cannot bear fruit.(J)
Even if they bear children,
I will kill the precious offspring of their wombs.(K)
17 My God will reject them
because they have not listened to Him;(L)
they will become wanderers among the nations.(M)

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11 Ephraim’s glory is like a bird;
    it will fly away—
        no birth, no pregnancy, and no conception.
12 Even though they bring up their children,
    I will bereave them before maturity.[a]
Woe to them indeed,
    when I depart from them!
13 Ephraim, as I see it,
    is like a palm in a meadow;
but Ephraim must bring out
    his children to the slayer.
14 Give them, O Yahweh—
    what will you give them?
Give them a miscarrying womb
    and dry breasts.
15 Every evil of theirs began at Gilgal,
    so I began to hate them there;
because of the evil of their deeds
    I will drive them out from my house.
I will love them no more;
    all their officials are rebels.
16 Ephraim is stricken,
    their root is dried up,
        they shall not bear fruit.
Even if they give birth,
    I will kill the cherished offspring of their womb.
17 My God will reject them
    because they did not listen to him,
        and they will be wanderers among the nations.

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Footnotes

  1. Hosea 9:12 Or “until no one is left”