1 When Ephraim spoke, trembling, he was lifted up in Israel. But when he trespassed through Baal, he died.2 And now they sin more and more, and they have made themselves 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 who sacrifice kiss the calves.3 Therefore they shall be as the morning cloud, and as the early dew that passes away, as chaff driven from the threshing floor by the storm, and as smoke out of the chimney.4 Yet I am Jehovah your God, ever since the land of Egypt; and you shall know no other gods but Me. For there is no Savior besides Me.5 I have known you in the wilderness, in the land of great drought.6 When they had pasture, they were filled. They were filled, and their heart was exalted. Therefore they have forgotten Me.7 Now I am like a lion to them; I will watch by the way like a leopard.8 I will meet them like a bereaved bear, and I will tear open the carcass to their heart; and like a lion, I will devour them there; the beasts of the field shall tear them.9 O Israel, you are destroyed, but your help is in Me.10 Where is your king now, that he may save you in all your cities? And where are your judges to whom you said, Give to me a king and rulers?11 I gave you a king in My anger, and took him away in My fury.12 The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up; his sin is treasured up.13 The pangs of a woman giving birth shall come upon him; he is an unwise son, for he does not stay long where children are born.14 I will ransom them from the hand of Sheol; I will redeem them from death. O death, where are your plagues? O Sheol, where is your destruction? Sorrow is hidden from My eyes.15 Though he is fruitful among brothers, an east wind shall come. The wind of Jehovah shall come up from the wilderness, and his spring shall be disappointed because his fountain shall be dried up. He shall plunder the treasure of all desirable vessels.16 Samaria is held guilty, for she has 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 open.

1 For Effraym spak, hidousnesse assailide Israel; and he trespasside in Baal, and was deed.2 And now thei addiden to do synne, and maden to hem a yotun ymage of her siluer, as the licnesse of idols; al is the makyng of crafti men. To these thei seien, A! ye men, offre, and worschipe caluys.3 Therfor thei schulen be as a morewtid cloude, and as the deew of morewtid, that passith forth, as dust rauyschide bi whirlewynd fro the corn floor, and as smoke of a chymenei.4 Forsothe Y am thi Lord God, `that ledde thee fro the loond of Egipt; and thou schalt not knowe God, outakun me, and no sauyour is, outakun me.5 Y knewe thee in the desert, in the lond of wildirnesse.6 Bi her lesewis thei weren fillid, and hadden abundaunce; thei reisiden her herte, and foryaten me.7 And Y schal be as a lionesse to hem, as a parde in the weye of Assiriens.8 Y as a femal bere, whanne the whelps ben rauyschid, schal mete hem; and schal al to-breke the ynnere thingis of the mawe of hem. And Y as a lioun schal waaste hem there; a beeste of the feeld schal al to-rende hem.9 Israel, thi perdicioun is of thee; thin help is oneli of me.10 Where is thi kyng? moost saue he thee now in alle thi citees; and where ben thi iugis, of whiche thou seidist, Yyue thou to me a kyng, and princes?11 Y schal yyue to thee a kyng in my strong veniaunce, and Y schal take awei in myn indignacioun.12 The wickidnesse of Effraym is boundun togidere; his synne is hid.13 The sorewis of a womman trauelynge of child schulen come to hym; he is a sone not wijs. For now he schal not stonde in the defoulyng of sones.14 Y schal delyuere hem fro the hoond of deeth, and Y schal ayenbie hem fro deth. Thou deth, Y schal be thi deth; thou helle, Y schal be thi mussel.15 Coumfort is hid fro myn iyen, for he schal departe bitwixe britheren. The Lord schal brynge a brennynge wynd, stiynge fro desert; and it schal make drie the veynes therof, and it schal make desolat the welle therof; and he schal rauysche the tresour of ech desirable vessel.