Hosea 13

1 When Ephraim spoke,  * 13:1 Jb 29:21–22 there was trembling;

he was exalted in Israel.  * 13:1 Jdg 8:1; 12:1

But he incurred guilt through Baal  * 13:1 Hs 2:8–17; 11:2 and died.

2 Now they continue to sin

and make themselves a cast image,  * 13:2 Is 46:6; Jr 10:4; Hs 2:8

idols skillfully made from their silver,  * 13:2 Is 44:17–20

all of them the work of craftsmen.  * 13:2 Hs 8:6

People say about them,

"Let the men who sacrifice  * 13:2 Or "Those who make human sacrifices kiss the calves."  * 13:2 Hs 8:5–6; 10:5

3 Therefore, they will be like the morning mist,  * 13:3 Hs 6:4

like the early dew that vanishes,

like chaff blown from a threshing floor,  * 13:3 Ps 1:4; Is 17:13; Dn 2:35

or like smoke from a window.  * 13:3 Ps 68:2

Death and Resurrection

4 I have been the Lord your God  * 13:4 Hs 12:9

ever since  * 13:4 DSS, LXX read God who brought you out of the land of Egypt;

you know no God but me,  * 13:4 Ex 20:3; 2Kg 18:35

and no Savior exists besides me.  * 13:4 Is 43:11; 45:21–22

5 I knew  * 13:5 LXX, Syr read fed you in the wilderness,  * 13:5 Dt 32:10

in the land of drought.

6 When they had pasture,

they became satisfied;  * 13:6 Dt 8:12,14; 32:13–15; Jr 5:7

they were satisfied,

and their hearts became proud.  * 13:6 Hs 7:14

Therefore they forgot me.  * 13:6 Hs 2:13; 4:6; 8:14

7 So I will be like a lion  * 13:7 Hs 5:14 to them;

I will lurk like a leopard  * 13:7 Jr 5:6 on the path.

8 I will attack them

like a bear robbed of her cubs

and tear open the rib cage over their hearts.

I will devour them there like a lioness,  * 13:8 Ps 50:22

like a wild beast that would rip them open.

9 I will destroy you, Israel;

you have no help but me.  * 13:9 LXX reads At your destruction, Israel, who will help you?,* 13:9 Jr 2:17,19; Hs 6:1–2; Mal 1:12–13

10 Where now is your king,  * 13:10 LXX, Syr, Vg; MT reads I will be your king,* 13:10 2Kg 17:4; Hs 8:4

that he may save you in all your cities,

and the  * 13:10 Lit your rulers  * 13:10 Or judges,* 13:10 Hs 7:7 you demanded, saying,

"Give me a king and leaders"?

11 I give you a king in my anger  * 13:11 1Sm 8:7

and take away a king in my wrath.  * 13:11 1Kg 14:7–10; Hs 10:7

12 Ephraim’s guilt is preserved;

his sin is stored up.  * 13:12 Dt 32:34–35; Jb 14:17; Rm 2:5

13 Labor pains come on him.  * 13:13 Mc 4:9–10

He is not a wise son;  * 13:13 Dt 32:6; Hs 5:4

when the time comes,

he will not be born.  * 13:13 Lit he will not present himself at the opening of the womb for sons,* 13:13 Is 37:3; 66:9

14 I will ransom them from the power of Sheol.

I will redeem  * 13:14 Or Should I ransom . . . ? Should I redeem . . . ? them from death.  * 13:14 Hs 6:1–2

Death, where are your barbs?

Sheol, where is your sting?  * 13:14 1Co 15:55

Compassion is hidden from my eyes.  * 13:14 Jr 20:16; 31:35–37

The Coming Judgment

15 Although he flourishes among his brothers,  * 13:15 Or among reeds,* 13:15 Gn 49:22; Hs 10:1

an east wind will come,  * 13:15 Gn 41:6; Jr 4:11–12; Ezk 17:10; 19:12

a wind from the Lord rising up from the desert.

His water source will fail,

and his spring will run dry.  * 13:15 Jr 51:36

The wind  * 13:15 Probably the Assyrian king will plunder the treasury  * 13:15 Jr 20:5

of every precious item.

16 Samaria  * 13:16 Hs 7:1 will bear her guilt  * 13:16 Hs 10:2

because she has rebelled against her God.  * 13:16 Hs 7:14

They will fall by the sword;  * 13:16 Hs 11:6

their children will be dashed to pieces,  * 13:16 Hs 10:14

and their pregnant women ripped open.  * 13:16 2Kg 15:16