13 “When Efraim spoke, there was trembling.

He promoted himself in Yisrael,

but he became guilty through Baal and died.

2 Now they disobey God more and more,

and they make cast metal images for themselves—

idols skillfully made from their silver—

≈all of them the work of craftsmen.

They say about them, ‘Those who sacrifice people, kiss calves.’

3 Therefore they’ll be like the morning clouds,

≈and like the dew that goes away early,

like the chaff that swirls from the threshing floor,

≈and like smoke exiting an open window.

4 But I’m your God Yahweh who brought you out of Egypt,

and you were to consider no god except me,

because there’s no saviour other than me.

5 I knew you out there in the wilderness,

in the region of drought.

6 When they had their pasture, then they became full.

They were filled, and their heart became lifted up,

so they just forgot me.

7 So I will become like a lion to them.

Like a leopard, I’ll lurk along the path.

8 I’ll attack them like a bear that’s been robbed of her cubs.

≈I’ll rip open their chests and devour them there like a lion—

≈like a wild beast would tear them apart.

9 He destroys you, Yisrael.

because you’re against me—against your helper.

10 Where’s your king now to save you in all your cities,

and your other leaders

that you’d talked about, saying, ‘Give me a king and princes’?[ref]

11 I gave you a king in my anger,

then I took him away in my rage.[ref]

12 Efraim’s disobedience is wrapped up.

His sin is stored up.

13 Pains of childbirth will come on him,

but he’s an unwise son,

because he fails to present himself at the right time when the womb opens.

14 Will I ransom them from the hand of the grave?

≈Will I redeem them from death?

Where, O Death, are your plagues?

≈Where, O Grave, is your destruction?

My eyes won’t be displaying any compassion.”[ref]

15 Though he flourishes among his brothers, an east wind will come.

Yahweh’s wind will come up from the wilderness.

His fountain will dry up,

and his spring will be parched.

It will plunder every precious object from his treasury.

16 Samaria will be held guilty,

because she’s rebelled against her God.

They will fall by the sword.

Their young children will be dashed to pieces,

≈and their pregnant women will be ripped open.