Hosea 13

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 When Ephraim used to speak, all trembled; he was a power in Israel; but once he had incurred guiltwith Baal, he died.	1 Ephraim's word caused fear, for he was exalted in Israel; but he sinned through Baal and died.
2 And now they compound their sins by casting images for themselves out of their silver, idols of theirown invention, the work of craftsmen, al of it! 'Sacrifice to them,' they say! Men bestow kisses to calves!	2 Now they continue to sin, making for themselves molten images, Silver idols according to their fancy, all of them the work of artisans. "To these," they say, "offer sacrifice." Men kiss calves!
3 That is why they will be like morning mist, like the dew that quickly disappears, like the chaff whirledfrom the threshing-floor, like smoke escaping through the window.	3 Therefore, they shall be like a morning cloud or like the dew that early passes away, Like chaff storm-driven from the threshing floor or like smoke out of the window.
4 But I have been Yahweh your God since your days in Egypt when you knew no god but me, since youhad no one else to save you.	4 I am the LORD, your God, since the land of Egypt; You know no God besides me, and there is no savior but me.
5 I cared for you in the desert, in the land of dreadful drought.	5 I fed you in the desert, in the torrid land.
6 I pastured them, and they were satisfied; once satisfied, their hearts grew proud, and therefore theyforgot me.	6 They ate their fill; when filled, they became proud of heart and forgot me.
7 So now I shal be like a lion to them, like a leopard I shall lurk beside the road,	7 Therefore, I will be like a lion to them, like a panther by the road I will keep watch.
8 like a bear robbed of her cubs I shal meet them and rend the membrane of their heart, and there likea lioness I shall eat them, like a wild beast tear them to shreds.	8 I will attack them like a bear robbed of its young, and tear their hearts from their breasts; I will devour them on the spot like a lion, as though a wild beast were to rend them.
9 Israel, you have destroyed yourself though in me lies your help.	9 Your destruction, O Israel! who is there to help you?
10 Your king, where is he now, to save you, or the governors in al your cities? - whom you oncepleaded for, saying, 'Give me a king and princes!'	10 Where now is your king, that he may rescue you in all your cities? And your rulers, of whom you said, "Give me a king and princes"?
11 In my anger I gave you a king and in my wrath I have taken him away.	11 I give you a king in my anger, and I take him away in my wrath.
12 Ephraim's guilt is packed away, his sin is locked up.	12 The guilt of Israel is wrapped up, his sin is stored away.
13 Pangs as of childbirth overtake him, and a stupid child he is; his time is due, but he does not leavethe womb.	13 The birth pangs shall come for him, but he shall be an unwise child; For when it is time he shall not present himself where children break forth.
14 Shall I save them from the clutches of Sheol? Shal I buy them back from Death? Where are yourplagues, Death? Where are your scourges, Sheol? Compassion wil be banished from my sight!	14 Shall I deliver them from the power of the nether world? shall I redeem them from death? Where are your plagues, O death! where is your sting, O nether world! My eyes are closed to compassion.
15 Though Ephraim bears more fruit than his brothers, the wind from the East wil come, Yahweh'sbreath blowing up from the desert to dry his spring, to dry up his fountain, to strip his treasury of everything worthhaving.	15 Though he be fruitful among his fellows, an east wind shall come, a wind from the LORD, rising from the desert, That shall dry up his spring, and leave his fountain dry. It shall loot his land of every precious thing.