13 1 The abomination of Israel, 9 and cause of their destruction.
1 When Ephraim spake, there was [a]trembling: he [b]exalted himself in Israel, but he hath sinned in Baal, [c]and is dead.
2 And now they sin more and more, and have made them molten images of their silver, and idols according to their own understanding: they were all the work of the craftsmen: they say one to another while they sacrifice a [d]man, Let them kiss the calves.
3 Therefore they shall be as the morning cloud, and as the morning dew that passeth away, as the chaff that is driven with a whirlwind out of the floor, and as the smoke that goeth out of the chimney.
4 Yet I am the Lord thy God [e]from the land of Egypt, and thou shalt know no God but me: for there is no Savior beside me.
5 I did know thee in the wilderness, in the land of drought.
6 As in their pastures, so were they filled: they were filled, and their heart was exalted: therefore have they forgotten me.
7 And I will be unto them as a very lion, and as a leopard in the way of Assyria.
8 I will meet them, as a bear that is robbed of her whelps, and I will break the caul of their heart, and there will I devour them like a lion: the wild beasts shall tear them.
9 O Israel, one [f]hath destroyed thee, but in me is thine help.
10 [g]I am: where is thy king that should help thee in all thy cities? and thy judges, of whom thou saidest, Give me a king and princes?
11 I gave thee a king in mine anger, and I took him away in my wrath.
12 The iniquity of Ephraim is [h]bound up: his sin is hid.
13 The sorrows of a travailing woman shall come upon him: he is an unwise son, else would he not stand still at the time, even at the [i]breaking forth of the children.
14 I will redeem them from the power of the grave: I will deliver them from death: O [j]death, I will be thy death: O grave, I will be thy destruction: [k]repentance is hid from mine eyes.
15 Though he grew up among his brethren, an East wind shall come, even the wind of the Lord shall come up from the wilderness, and dry up his vein, and his fountain shall be dried up: he shall spoil the treasure of all pleasant vessels.
Footnotes
- Hosea 13:1 He showeth the excellency and authority that this tribe had above all the rest.
- Hosea 13:1 He made a king of his tribe.
- Hosea 13:1 The Ephraimites are not far from destruction, and have lost their authority.
- Hosea 13:2 The false prophets persuaded the idolaters to offer their children after the example of Abraham, and he showeth how they would exhort one another to the same, and to kiss and worship these calves which were their idols.
- Hosea 13:4 He calleth them to repentance, and reproveth their ingratitude.
- Hosea 13:9 Thy destruction is certain, and my benefits toward thee declare that it cometh not of me: therefore thine own malice, idolatry and vain confidence in men must needs be the cause thereof.
- Hosea 13:10 I am all one, James 1:17.
- Hosea 13:12 It is surely laid up to be punished, as Jer. 17:1.
- Hosea 13:13 But would come out of the womb, that is out of this dangers wherein he is and not to tarry to be stifled.
- Hosea 13:14 Meaning, that no power shall resist God when he will deliver his, but even in death will he give them life.
- Hosea 13:14 Because they will not turn to me, I will change my purpose.