Hosea 13 - The Message (MSG)

Religion Customized to Taste

13 1-3 God once let loose against Ephraim
a terrifying sentence against Israel:
Caught and convicted
in the lewd sex-worship of Baal—they died!
And now they’re back in the sin business again,
manufacturing god-images they can use,
Religion customized to taste. Professionals see to it:
Anything you want in a god you can get.
Can you believe it? They sacrifice live babies to these dead gods—
kill living babies and kiss golden calves!
And now there’s nothing left to these people:
hollow men, desiccated women,
Like scraps of paper blown down the street,
like smoke in a gusty wind.

4-6 “I’m still your God,
the God who saved you out of Egypt.
I’m the only real God you’ve ever known.
I’m the one and only God who delivers.
I took care of you during the wilderness hard times,
those years when you had nothing.
I took care of you, took care of all your needs,
gave you everything you needed.
You were spoiled. You thought you didn’t need me.
You forgot me.

7-12 “I’ll charge them like a lion,
like a leopard stalking in the brush.
I’ll jump them like a sow grizzly robbed of her cubs.
I’ll rip out their guts.
Coyotes will make a meal of them.
Crows will clean their bones.
I’m going to destroy you, Israel.
Who is going to stop me?
Where is your trusty king you thought would save you?
Where are all the local leaders you wanted so badly?
All these rulers you insisted on having,
demanding, ‘Give me a king! Give me leaders!’?
Well, long ago I gave you a king, but I wasn’t happy about it.
Now, fed up, I’ve gotten rid of him.
I have a detailed record of your infidelities—
Ephraim’s sin documented and stored in a safe-deposit box.

13-15 “When birth pangs signaled it was time to be born,
Ephraim was too stupid to come out of the womb.
When the passage into life opened up,
he didn’t show.
Shall I intervene and pull them into life?
Shall I snatch them from a certain death?
Who is afraid of you, Death?
Who cares about your threats, Tomb?
In the end I’m abolishing regret,
banishing sorrow,
Even though Ephraim ran wild,
the black sheep of the family.

15-16 “God’s tornado is on its way,
roaring out of the desert.
It will devastate the country,
leaving a trail of ruin and wreckage.
The cities will be gutted,
dear possessions gone for good.
Now Samaria has to face the charges
because she has rebelled against her God:
Her people will be killed, babies smashed on the rocks,
pregnant women ripped open.”

You Might Also Like:

Hosea 13 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

13 When Ephraim speaketh tremblingly, He hath been lifted up in Israel, When he becometh guilty in Baal he dieth. 2 And now do they add to sin, And make to them a molten image of their silver, By their own understanding -- idols, A work of artizans -- all of it, Of them they say, who [are] sacrifice...
Read More

Hosea 13 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

13 For Ephraim spake, hideousness assailed Israel; and he trespassed in Baal, and was dead. (For when the people of Ephraim spoke, fear, or terror, assailed the other Israelites; and they trespassed by worshipping Baal, and many died.) 2 And now they added to do sin, and made to them a molten image ...
Read More

Hosea 13 - World English Bible (WEB)

13 When Ephraim spoke, there was trembling. He exalted himself in Israel, but when he became guilty in Baal, he died.2 Now they sin more and more, and have made themselves molten images of their silver, even idols according to their own understanding, all of them the work of the craftsmen. They say ...
Read More

Hosea 13 - The Voice (VOICE)

13 When Ephraim spoke, people trembled because he was powerful in Israel.But he was guilty of worshiping another divine master[a] and was sentenced to death. 2 Even now they keep on sinning; they cast metal idols for themselves, shaping silver to fashion wretched images.These idols are all skillfull...
Read More

Hosea 13 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

No Other Savior13 When Ephraim spoke, there was trembling.He exalted himself in Israel,but he became guilty through Baal, and died.2 But now, they sin more and more.They made themselves molten images, idols skillfully made from their silver, all of them the work of the craftsmen.They say about them:...
Read More

Hosea 13 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

Relentless Judgment on Israel13 When E′phraim spoke, men trembled;he was exalted in Israel; but he incurred guilt through Ba′al and died.2 And now they sin more and more, and make for themselves molten images,idols skilfully made of their silver, all of them the work of craftsmen.Sacrifice to these,...
Read More

Hosea 13 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

Relentless Judgment on Israel13 When E′phraim spoke, men trembled; he was exalted in Israel; but he incurred guilt through Ba′al and died.2 And now they sin more and more, and make for themselves molten images,idols skilfully made of their silver, all of them the work of craftsmen.Sacrifice to these...
Read More

Hosea 13 - New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

Relentless Judgment on Israel13 When Ephraim spoke, there was trembling; he was exalted in Israel; but he incurred guilt through Baal and died.2 And now they keep on sinning and make a cast image for themselves,idols of silver made according to their understanding, all of them the work of artisans.“...
Read More

Hosea 13 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

Relentless Judgement on Israel13 When Ephraim spoke, there was trembling; he was exalted in Israel; but he incurred guilt through Baal and died.2 And now they keep on sinning and make a cast image for themselves,idols of silver made according to their understanding, all of them the work of artisans....
Read More

Hosea 13 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Relentless Judgment on Israel13 When Ephraim spoke, there was trembling; he was exalted in Israel, but he incurred guilt through Baal and died.(A)2 And now they keep on sinning and make a cast image for themselves,idols of silver made according to their understanding, all of them the work of artisan...
Read More

Hosea 13 - New Living Translation (NLT)

The Lord’s Anger against Israel13 When the tribe of Ephraim spoke, the people shook with fear, for that tribe was important in Israel.But the people of Ephraim sinned by worshiping Baal and thus sealed their destruction.2 Now they continue to sin by making silver idols, images shaped skillfully with...
Read More

Hosea 13 - New Life Version (NLV)

Israel Judged the Last Time13 When Ephraim spoke, men shook in fear. He was honored in Israel. But he sinned by worshiping Baal, and died. 2 And now they sin more and more. They make false gods for themselves. Their able workmen make them out of silver. And they say, “Let the men who give gifts in ...
Read More

Hosea 13 - New King James Version (NKJV)

Relentless Judgment on Israel13 When Ephraim spoke, trembling,He exalted himself in Israel;But when he offended through Baal worship, he died.2 Now they sin more and more,And have made for themselves molded images,Idols of their silver, according to their skill;All of it is the work of craftsmen.The...
Read More

Hosea 13 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

The Lord’s anger against Israel13 When Ephraim spoke, people trembled; he was exalted in Israel. But he became guilty of Baal worship and died.2 Now they sin more and more; they make idols for themselves from their silver,cleverly fashioned images, all of them the work of craftsmen.It is said of the...
Read More

Hosea 13 - New International Version (NIV)

The Lord’s Anger Against Israel13 When Ephraim spoke, people trembled;(A) he was exalted(B) in Israel. But he became guilty of Baal worship(C) and died.2 Now they sin more and more; they make(D) idols for themselves from their silver,(E)cleverly fashioned images, all of them the work of craftsmen.(F...
Read More

Hosea 13 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

The Lord Is Angry With Israel13 When the tribe of Ephraim spoke, the other tribes trembled with fear. Ephraim was honored in Israel.But its people sinned by worshiping Baal. So they were as good as dead.2 Now they sin more and more. They use their silver to make statues of gods for themselves.The st...
Read More

Hosea 13 - New English Translation (NET)

Baal Worshipers and Calf Worshipers to be Destroyed13 When Ephraim[a] spoke,[b] there was terror;[c]he was exalted[d] in Israel,but he became guilty by worshiping Baal and died.2 Even now they persist in sin![e]They make metal images for themselves,idols that they skillfully fashion[f] from their ow...
Read More