25 The noun עָוֹן (’avon) has a three-fold range of meanings: (1) “iniquity,” so , , ; (2) “guilt,” so , ; and (3) “punishment” ( 730 עָוֹן). The oracle of 13:12–13 announces that Israel’s punishment, though momentarily withheld, will suddenly come upon her like labor pains that will kill her.
26 Heb “has been bound.” צָרַר (tsarar, “to bind”) refers elsewhere to the action of scribes binding a document into a sealed scroll of safekeeping (Isa 8:16; I צרר 1; 864 צָרַר 1). Here it figuratively depicts the record of Israel’s sins being written down and permanently bound in a sealed scroll for safekeeping (cf. , “are on record”). The guilt of Israel’s sin will be retained.

In other versions

The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up;

his sin is kept in store.

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.

The guilt of Ephraim is stored up,

his sins are kept on record.

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.

Ephraim’s guilt is preserved;

his sin is stored up.

Labor pains come on him.

He is not a wise son;

when the time comes,

he will not be born.

“Ephraim’s guilt has been collected,

and his sin has been stored up for punishment.

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!

The sin of Ephraim is wrapped up;

his sin is concealed.

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.

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

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.

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