1 When Ephraim spake trembling, he exalted himself in Israel; but when he offended in Baal, he died.
2 And now they sin more and more, and have made them molten images of their silver,
3 Therefore they shall be as the morning cloud, and as the early dew that passeth away, as the chaff
4 Yet I
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 I will be unto them as a lion: as a leopard by the way will I observe
8 I will meet them as a bear
9 O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; but in me
10 I will be thy king: where
11 I gave thee a king in mine anger, and took
12 The iniquity of Ephraim
13 The sorrows of a travailing woman shall come upon him: he
14 I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes.
15 Though he be fruitful among
16 Samaria shall become desolate; 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.