Hosea 13

NEW JERUSALEM	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 When Ephraim used to speak, all trembled; he was a power in Israel; but once he had incurred guiltwith Baal, he died.	1 While Ephraim was speaking, a horror entered Israel, and he offended by Baal, and he 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 And now they add that they will be sinning more. And they have made themselves an image cast from their silver, just like the image of idols; but the whole thing has been made by craftsmen. These say to them, “Sacrifice men, you who adore 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 For this reason, they will be like the morning clouds, and like the morning dew that passes away, just like the dust that is driven by a whirlwind away from the threshing floor, and like the smoke from a chimney.
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 But I am the Lord your God from the land of Egypt, and you will not know God apart from me, and there is no Savior except me.
5 I cared for you in the desert, in the land of dreadful drought.	5 I knew you in the desert, in the land of solitude.
6 I pastured them, and they were satisfied; once satisfied, their hearts grew proud, and therefore theyforgot me.	6 According to their pastures, they have been filled up and have been satisfied. And they have lifted up their heart, and they have forgotten me.
7 So now I shal be like a lion to them, like a leopard I shall lurk beside the road,	7 And I will be to them like a lioness, like a leopard in the way of the Assyrians.
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 run to meet them like a bear that has been robbed of her young, and I will split open the middle of their liver. And I will devour them there like a lion; the beast of the field will tear them apart.
9 Israel, you have destroyed yourself though in me lies your help.	9 Perdition is yours, Israel. Your help is only in me.
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 is your king? Now, especially, let him save you in all your cities, and from your judges, about whom you said, “Give me kings and princes.”
11 In my anger I gave you a king and in my wrath I have taken him away.	11 I will give you a king in my wrath, and I will take him away in my indignation.
12 Ephraim's guilt is packed away, his sin is locked up.	12 The iniquity of Ephraim has been bound; his sin has been engulfed.
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 pains of giving birth will reach him. He is an unwise son. For now he will not remain firm during the contrition of his sons.
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 I will free them from the hand of death; from death I will redeem them. Death, I will be your death. Hell, I will be your deadly wound. Consolation is hidden from my eyes.
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 For he will make a division among brothers. The Lord will bring a burning wind, rising up from the desert, and it will dry up his streams, and it will make his fountain desolate, and he will tear apart every collection of desirable useful things.