When
Ephraim spake trembling, he exalted himself in
Israel; but when he offended in Baal, he died.
02 And now they sin more and more, and have made
them molten images of their silver, and idols
according to their own understanding, all of it
the work of the craftsmen: they say of them, Let
the men that sacrifice kiss the calves.
03 Therefore they shall be as the morning cloud
and as the early dew that passeth away, as the
chaff that is driven with the whirlwind out of
the floor, and as the smoke out of the chimney.
04 Yet I am the Lord thy God from the land of
Egypt, and thou shalt know no god but me: for
there is no saviour beside me.
05 I did know thee in the wilderness, in the land
of great drought.
06 According to their pasture, so were they
filled; they were filled, and their heart was
exalted; therefore have they forgotten me.
07 Therefore I will be unto them as a lion: as a
leopard by the way will I observe them:
08 I will meet them as a bear that is bereaved of
her whelps, and will rend the caul of their
heart, and there will I devour them like a lion:
the wild beast shall tear them.
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09 O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; but in
me is thine help.
10 I will be thy king: where is any other that
may save thee in all thy cities? and thy judges
of whom thou saidst, Give me a king and princes?
11 I gave thee a king in mine anger, and took him
away in my wrath.
12 The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up; his sin
is hid.
13 The sorrows of a travailing woman shall come
upon him: he is an unwise son; for he should not
stay long in the place of the breaking forth of
children.
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 his brethren, an
east wind shall come, the wind of the Lord shall
come up from the wilderness, and his spring shall
become dry, and his fountain shall be dried up:
he shall spoil the treasure of all pleasant
vessels.
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.
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