¶ When Ephraim¹ spake trembling, he exalted² himself in Israel; but when he offended³ in Baal, he died⁴.

And now⁵ they sin more and more⁶, and have made them molten images of their silver, and idols according⁷ to their own understanding, all of it the work of the craftsmen: they say of them, Let the men that sacrifice⁸ kiss the calves.

Therefore they shall be as the morning⁹ cloud, and as the early dew that passeth away, as the chaff¹⁰ that is driven with the whirlwind out of the floor, and as the smoke out of the chimney.

Yet I am¹¹ the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt, and thou shalt know no god but me: for¹² there is no saviour beside me.

¶ I did know¹³ thee in the wilderness¹⁴, in the land of great drought¹⁵.

According to¹⁶ their pasture, so were they filled; they were filled, and their heart was exalted; therefore¹⁷ have they forgotten me.

¹⁸Therefore I will be unto them as a lion: as a leopard by the way will I observe them:

I will meet them as a¹⁹ bear that is bereaved of her whelps, and will rend the caul of their heart, and there will I devour them like a lion: the wild beast²⁰ shall tear them.

¶ O Israel, thou²¹ hast destroyed thyself; but²² in me is thine help²³.

¶ I will be thy king²⁴: where²⁵ is any other that may save thee in all thy cities? and thy judges²⁶ of whom thou saidst, Give me a king and princes?

²⁷I gave thee a king in mine anger, and took him away in my wrath.

²⁸The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up; his sin is hid.

The sorrows²⁹ of a travailing woman shall come upon him: he is an³⁰ unwise son; for he³¹ should not stay long³² in the place of the breaking forth of children.

I will ransom³³ them from the power³⁴ of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction: repentance³⁵ shall be hid from mine eyes.

Though he be³⁶ fruitful among his brethren, an east³⁷ wind shall come, the wind of the LORD shall come up from the wilderness, and his spring³⁸ shall become dry, and his fountain shall be dried up: he shall spoil the treasure of all pleasant vessels³⁹.

Samaria⁴⁰ shall become desolate; for she hath rebelled against her God: they shall fall by the sword: their infants⁴¹ shall be dashed in pieces, and their women with child shall be ripped up.