1 When Ephraim spoke, there was trembling; he exalted himself in Israel: but he trespassed through Baal, and he died.2 And now they sin more and more, and have made them molten images of their silver, 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.3 Therefore they shall be as the morning cloud, and as the early dew that passeth away, as the chaff driven with the whirlwind out of the threshing-floor, and as the smoke out of the lattice.4 Yet I {am} Jehovah thy God from the land of Egypt, and thou hast known no God but me; and there is no saviour besides me.5 I knew thee in the wilderness, in the land of drought.6 According to their pasture, they became full; they became full, and their heart was exalted: therefore have they forgotten me.7 And I will be unto them as a lion; as a leopard I will lurk for them by the way;8 I will meet them as a bear bereaved of her {whelps}, and will rend the covering of their heart, and there will I devour them like a lioness: the beast of the field shall tear them.9 It is thy destruction, O Israel, that {thou art} against me, against thy help.10 Where then is thy king, that he 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 laid by in store.13 The pangs of a woman in travail shall come upon him: he is a son not wise; for at the time of the breaking forth of children, he was not there.14 I will ransom them from the power of Sheol. I will redeem them from death: where, O death, are thy plagues? where, O Sheol, is thy destruction? Repentance shall be hid from mine eyes.15 Though he be fruitful among {his} brethren, an east wind shall come, a wind of Jehovah {that} cometh 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 bear her guilt; 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.

1 As Efraim net gespreek het, was daar siddering; hoog het hy gestaan in Israel. Maar hy het hom skuldig gemaak deur die Ba„l en gesterwe.2 En nou gaan hulle voort om te sondig en het vir hulle 'n gegote beeld van hulle silwer gemaak, afgode volgens hulle insig, geheel en al smidswerk; van hulle word gesê: Die mense wat offer, vereer kalwers met kusse!3 Daarom sal hulle wees soos 'n môre wolk en soos dou wat vroeg weer verdwyn, soos kaf wat wegvlieg van die dorsvloer en soos rook uit die venster.4 Tog was Ek, die HERE, jou God van Egipteland af, en buiten My het jy geen God geken nie, ja, behalwe My is daar geen Heiland nie.5 Ek het jou in die woestyn geken, in die land van droogtes.6 Ooreenkomstig hulle weiveld het hulle versadig geword; toe hulle versadig was, het hulle hart hoogmoedig geword; daarom het hulle My vergeet.7 Toe het Ek vir hulle soos 'n leeu geword, soos 'n luiperd lê Ek by die pad en loer.8 Ek val hulle aan soos 'n beer wat van kleintjies beroof is, en Ek skeur hulle borskas oop; en soos 'n leeuin verslind Ek hulle daar, die wilde diere van die veld sal hulle verskeur.9 Dit is jou verderf, o Israel, dat jy teen My, jou helper, is.10 Waar is nou jou koning, dat hy jou kan verlos in al jou stede, en jou regters van wie jy gesê het: Gee my 'n koning en vorste?11 Ek gee jou 'n koning in my toorn, en Ek neem hom weg in my grimmigheid.12 Saamgebind is die ongeregtigheid van Efraim, weggebêre is sy sonde.13 Barensweë sal hom oorval, hy is 'n onverstandige kind; want as die tyd daar is, stel hy hom nie in die kindergeboorte nie.14 Uit die mag van die doderyk sal Ek hulle loskoop, Ek sal hulle verlos van die dood. Dood, waar is jou pestilensies? Doderyk, waar is jou verderf? Berou bly vir my oë verborge.15 Wanneer hy vrug dra onder die broers, kom 'n oostewind, 'n wind van die HERE, wat uit die woestyn opkom; dan droog sy fontein op en sy bron dor uit. Di, sal 'n skat van allerhande kosbare voorwerpe roof.