Relentless Judgment on Israel

13 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.

They say of them,

“Let 1the men who sacrifice 2kiss the calves!”

3 Therefore they shall be like the morning cloud

And like the early dew that passes away,

aLike chaff blown off from a threshing floor

And like smoke from a chimney.

4 “Yet bI am the Lord your God

Ever since the land of Egypt,

And you shall know no God but Me;

For cthere is no savior besides Me.

5 dI 3knew you in the wilderness,

eIn the land of 4great drought.

6 fWhen they had pasture, they were filled;

They were filled and their heart was exalted;

Therefore they forgot Me.

7 “So gI will be to them like a lion;

Like ha leopard by the road I will lurk;

8 I will meet them ilike a bear deprived of her cubs;

I will tear open their rib cage,

And there I will devour them like a lion.

The 5wild beast shall tear them.

9 “O Israel, 6you are destroyed,

But 7your help is from Me.