¹ When Ephraim spoke, there was trembling. He exalted himself in Israel, but when he became guilty in Baal, he died.

² Now they sin more and more, and have made themselves molten images of their silver, even idols according to their own understanding, all of them the work of the craftsmen. They say of them, 'They offer human sacrifice and kiss the calves.'

³ Therefore they will be like the morning mist, and like the dew that passes away early, like the chaff that is driven with the whirlwind out of the threshing floor, and like the smoke out of the chimney.

⁴ "Yet I am Yahweh your God from the land of Egypt; and you shall acknowledge no God but me, and besides me there is no savior.

⁵ I knew 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 they have forgotten me.

⁷ Therefore I am like a lion to them. Like a leopard, I will lurk by the path.

⁸ I will meet them like a bear that is bereaved of her cubs, and will tear the covering of their heart. There I will devour them like a lioness. The wild animal will tear them.

⁹ You are destroyed, Israel, because you are against me, against your help.

¹⁰ Where is your king now, that he may save you in all your cities? And your judges, of whom you said, 'Give me a king and princes?'

¹¹ I have given you a king in my anger, and have taken him away in my wrath.

¹² The guilt of Ephraim is stored up. His sin is stored up.

¹³ The sorrows of a travailing woman will come on him. He is an unwise son; for when it is time, he doesn't come to the opening of the womb.

¹⁴ I will ransom them from the power of Sheol. I will redeem them from death! Death, where are your plagues? Sheol, where is your destruction? "Compassion will be hidden from my eyes.

¹⁵ Though he is fruitful among his brothers, an east wind will come, the breath of Yahweh coming up from the wilderness; and his spring will become dry, and his fountain will be dried up. He will plunder the storehouse of treasure.

¹⁶ Samaria will bear her guilt; for she has rebelled against her God. They will fall by the sword. Their infants will be dashed in pieces, and their pregnant women will be ripped open."

¹ Hear the word of Yahweh, you children of Israel; for Yahweh has a charge against the inhabitants of the land: "Indeed there is no truth, nor goodness, nor knowledge of God in the land.

² There is cursing, lying, murder, stealing, and committing adultery; they break boundaries, and bloodshed causes bloodshed.

³ Therefore the land will mourn, and everyone who dwells therein will waste away. all living things in her, even the animals of the field and the birds of the sky; yes, the fish of the sea also die.

⁴ "Yet let no man bring a charge, neither let any man accuse; For your people are like those who bring charges against a priest.

⁵ You will stumble in the day, and the prophet will also stumble with you in the night; and I will destroy your mother.

⁶ My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you, that you may be no priest to me. Because you have forgotten your God's law, I will also forget your children.

⁷ As they were multiplied, so they sinned against me. I will change their glory into shame.

⁸ They feed on the sin of my people, and set their heart on their iniquity.

⁹ It will be, like people, like priest; and I will punish them for their ways, and will repay them for their deeds.

¹⁰ They will eat, and not have enough. They will play the prostitute, and will not increase; because they have abandoned giving to Yahweh.

¹¹ Prostitution, wine, and new wine take away understanding.

¹² My people consult with their wooden idol, and answer to a stick of wood. Indeed the spirit of prostitution has led them astray, and they have been unfaithful to their God.

¹³ They sacrifice on the tops of the mountains, and burn incense on the hills, under oaks and poplars and terebinths, because its shade is good. Therefore your daughters play the prostitute, and your brides commit adultery.

¹⁴ I will not punish your daughters when they play the prostitute, nor your brides when they commit adultery; because the men consort with prostitutes, and they sacrifice with the shrine prostitutes; so the people without understanding will come to ruin.

¹⁵ "Though you, Israel, play the prostitute, yet don't let Judah offend; and don't come to Gilgal, neither go up to Beth Aven, nor swear, 'As Yahweh lives.'

¹⁶ For Israel has behaved extremely stubbornly, like a stubborn heifer. Then how will Yahweh feed them like a lamb in a meadow.

¹⁷ Ephraim is joined to idols. Leave him alone!

¹⁸ Their drink has become sour. They play the prostitute continually. Her rulers dearly love their shameful way.

¹⁹ The wind has wrapped her up in its wings; and they shall be disappointed because of their sacrifices.