Hosea 13

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
1 Ephraim's word caused fear, for he was exalted in Israel; but he sinned through Baal and died.	1 When Ephraim spoke, men trembled; he was exalted in Israel; but he incurred guilt through Baal and died.
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!	2 And now they sin more and more, and make for themselves molten images, idols skilfully made of their silver, all of them the work of craftsmen. Sacrifice to these, they say. Men kiss calves!
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.	3 Therefore they shall be like the morning mist or like the dew that goes early away, like the chaff that swirls from the threshing floor or like smoke from a window.
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.	4 I am the LORD your God from the land of Egypt; you know no God but me, and besides me there is no savior.
5 I fed you in the desert, in the torrid land.	5 It was I who knew you in the wilderness, in the land of drought;
6 They ate their fill; when filled, they became proud of heart and forgot me.	6 but when they had fed to the full, they were filled, and their heart was lifted up; therefore they forgot me.
7 Therefore, I will be like a lion to them, like a panther by the road I will keep watch.	7 So I will be to them like a lion, like a leopard I will lurk beside the way.
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.	8 I will fall upon them like a bear robbed of her cubs, I will tear open their breast, and there I will devour them like a lion, as a wild beast would rend them.
9 Your destruction, O Israel! who is there to help you?	9 I will destroy you, O Israel; who can help you?
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"?	10 Where now is your king, to save you; where are all your princes, to defend you --those of whom you said, "Give me a king and princes"?
11 I give you a king in my anger, and I take him away in my wrath.	11 I have given you kings in my anger, and I have taken them away in my wrath.
12 The guilt of Israel is wrapped up, his sin is stored away.	12 The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up, his sin is kept in store.
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.	13 The pangs of childbirth come for him, but he is an unwise son; for now he does not present himself at the mouth of the womb.
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.	14 Shall I ransom them from the power of Sheol? Shall I redeem them from Death? O Death, where are your plagues? O Sheol, where is your destruction? Compassion is hid from my eyes.
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.	15 Though he may flourish as the reed plant, the east wind, the wind of the LORD, shall come, rising from the wilderness; and his fountain shall dry up, his spring shall be parched; it shall strip his treasury of every precious thing.
	16 Samaria shall bear her guilt, because she has rebelled against her God; they shall fall by the sword, their little ones shall be dashed in pieces, and their pregnant women ripped open.