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Hosea 13
When Ephraim spoke, there was trembling: he exalted himself in Israel; but when he offended in Baal, he died. 2 And now they sin more and more, and have made them molten images of their silver, even idols according to their own understanding, all of them 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 dew that passes early away, as the chaff that is driven with the whirlwind out of the threshing-floor, and as the smoke out of the chimney.
4 Yet I am Yahweh your Elohim from the land of Egypt; and you shall know no mighty one but me, and besides me there is no savior. 5 I did know you in the wilderness, in the land of great drought. 6 According to their pasture, so were they filled; they were filled, and their heart was exalted: therefore have they forgotten me. 7 Therefore I am to them as a lion; as a leopard will I watch by the way; 8 I will meet them as a bear that is robbed of her whelps, and will rend the lining of their heart; and there will I devour them like a lioness; the wild beast shall tear them.
9 It is your destruction, O Israel, that you are against me, against your help. 10 Where now is your king, that he may save you in all your cities? And your judges, of whom you said, Give me a king and princes? 11 I have given you a king in my anger, and have taken him away in my wrath. 12 The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up; his sin is laid up in store.
13 The sorrows of a travailing woman shall come upon him: he is an unwise son; for it is time he should not stay in the place of the breaking forth of children. 14 I will ransom them from the power of Sheol; I will redeem them from death: O death, where are your plagues? O Sheol, where is your destruction? Repentance shall be hid from my eyes.
15 Though he is fruitful among his brethren, an east wind shall come, the breath of Yahweh coming up from the wilderness; and his spring shall become dry, and his fountain shall be dried up: he shall make plunder of the treasure of all good vessels. 16 Samaria shall bear her guilt; for she has rebelled against her Elohim: they shall fall by the sword; their infants shall be dashed in pieces, and their women with child shall be ripped up.
Hosea 14
O Israel, return to Yahweh your Elohim; for you have fallen by your iniquity. 2 Take with you words, and return to Yahweh: say to him, Take away all iniquity, and accept that which is good: so will we render as bullocks the offering of our lips. 3 Assyria shall not save us; we will not ride upon horses; neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, You are our elohim; for in you the fatherless finds mercy.
4 I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely; for my anger is turned away from him. 5 I will be as the dew to Israel; he shall blossom as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon. 6 His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive-tree, and his smell as Lebanon. 7 They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as the grain, and blossom as the vine: the scent of it shall be as the wine of Lebanon. 8 Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? I have answered, and will regard him: I am like a green fir-tree; from me is your fruit found.
9 Who is wise, that he may understand these things? Prudent, that he may know them? For the ways of Yahweh are right, and the just shall walk in them; but transgressors shall fall in it.
