Hosea 13:12–14

12 The guilt of Ephraim is stored up,

his sins are kept on record.

13 Pains as of a woman in childbirth come to him,

but he is a child without wisdom;

when the time arrives,

he doesn’t have the sense to come out of the womb.

14 “I will deliver this people from the power of the grave;

I will redeem them from death.

Where, O death, are your plagues?

Where, O grave, is your destruction?

“I will have no compassion,

12 The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up;

his sin is kept in store.

13 The pangs of childbirth come for him,

but he is an unwise son,

for at the right time he does not present himself

at the opening of the womb.

14 I shall ransom them from the power of Sheol;

I shall redeem them from Death.

O Death, where are your plagues?

O Sheol, where is your sting?

Compassion is hidden from my eyes.

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

13 The sorrows of a travailing woman shall come upon him:

He is an unwise son;

For he should not stay long in the place of the breaking forth of children.

14 I will ransom them from the power of the grave;

I will redeem them from death:

O death, I will be thy plagues;

O grave, I will be thy destruction:

Repentance shall be hid from mine eyes.

12 “Ephraim’s guilt has been collected,

and his sin has been stored up for punishment.

13 Pain has come to the people

like the pain of childbirth,

but they are like a child

who resists being born.

The moment of birth has arrived,

but they stay in the womb!

14 “Should I ransom them from the grave?

Should I redeem them from death?

O death, bring on your terrors!

O grave, bring on your plagues!

For I will not take pity on them.

12 “The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up;

His sin is stored up.

13 The sorrows of a woman in childbirth shall come upon him.

He is an unwise son,

For he should not stay long where children are born.

14 “I will ransom them from the power of the grave;

I will redeem them from death.

O Death, I will be your plagues!

O Grave, I will be your destruction!

Pity is hidden from My eyes.

12 The sins of Israel are on record,

stored away, waiting for punishment.

13 The pain of birth will come for him,

but he is like a foolish baby

who won’t come out of its mother’s womb.

14 Will I save them from the place of the dead?

Will I rescue them from death?

Where is your sickness, death?

Where is your pain, place of death?

I will show them no mercy.

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 tarry 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 thy plagues? O Sheol, where is thy destruction? repentance shall be hid from mine eyes.

12 The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up; his sin is laid by in store. 13 The pangs of a woman in travail shall come upon him: he is a son not wise; for at the time of the breaking forth of children, he was not there. 14 I will ransom them from the power of Sheol. I will redeem them from death: where, O death, are thy plagues? where, O Sheol, is thy destruction? Repentance shall be hid from mine eyes.

12 “Ephraim’s wickedness is on record. 

The record of the people’s sins is safely stored away. 

13 They have the opportunity to live again, 

but they are not smart enough to take it. 

They are like a baby who is about to be born 

but won’t come out of its mother’s womb. 

14 “I want to free them from the power of the grave. 

I want to reclaim them from death. 

Death, I want to be a plague to you. 

Grave, I want to destroy you.

I won’t even think of changing my plans.” 

12 Ephraim’s guilt is preserved;

his sin is stored up.

13 Labor pains come on him.

He is not a wise son;

when the time comes,

he will not be born.

14 I will ransom them from the power of Sheol.

I will redeem them from death.

Death, where are your barbs?

Sheol, where is your sting?

Compassion is hidden from My eyes.

12 Ephraim’s iniquity is bound up;

his sin is kept in store.

13 The pangs of childbirth come for him,

but he is an unwise son,

for at the proper time he does not present himself

at the mouth of the womb.

14 Shall I ransom them from the power of Sheol?

Shall I redeem them from Death?

O Death, where are your plagues?

O Sheol, where is your destruction?

Compassion is hidden from my eyes.

12 The sin of Ephraim is wrapped up;

his sin is concealed.

13 The labor pains of childbirth come for him;

he is an unwise son

because at the proper time, he does not present himself

at the mouth of the womb.

14 Should I redeem them from the power of Sheol?

Should I deliver them from death?

Where are your plagues, O Death?

Where is your destruction, O Sheol?

Compassion is hidden from my eyes.

12 Ephraim, your guilt is piling up.

I am keeping a record of all of your sins.

13 You will suffer pain like a woman having a baby.

You are like a foolish child.

It is time for you to be born.

But you refuse to come out of your mother’s body.

14 “I will set you free from the power of the grave.

I will save you from death.

Death, where are your plagues?

Grave, where is your power to destroy?

“Ephraim, I will no longer pity you.