16 The reads כְּמַרְעִיתָם (kémar’itam, “according to their pasturage”; preposition ךְּ (kaf) + noun מַרְעִית, mar’it, “pasture” + 3rd person masculine plural suffix). Text-critics propose: (1) כְּמוֹ רְעִיתִים (kémo ré’itim, “as I pastured them”; preposition כְּמוֹ (kémo) + Qal perfect 1st person common singular from רָעַה, ra’ah, “to pasture, feed” + 3rd person masculine plural suffix) and (2) כִּרְעוֹתָם (“when they had pastured”; preposition ךְּ + Qal perfect 3rd person masculine plural from רָעַה). Some English versions follow the : “according to their pasture” (), “as they had their pasture” (), “when you entered the good land” (). Others adopt the first emendation: “when I fed them” (, ), “I fed you [sic = them]” (). Still others follow the second emendation: “but when they had fed to the full” (), “when they grazed” ().
17 Heb “their heart became exalted”; , “was exalted.”
18 The vav consecutive + preterite form וָאֱהִי (va’ehi) introduces a consequential or result clause; cf. “Therefore”; “That is why.”
19 Heb “So I will be like a lion to them” (so ); “I will come upon them like a lion.”
20 The reads שִׁחֶתְךָ (shikhetkha, “he destroyed you”; Piel perfect 3rd person masculine singular from שָׁחַת, shakhat, “to destroy” + 2nd person masculine singular suffix). The editors suggest שׁחתיךָ (“I will destroy you”; Piel perfect 1st person common singular + 2nd person masculine singular suffix). Contextually, this fits: If the Lord is intent on destroying Israel, there is no one who will be able to rescue her from him. This reading is also followed by , , .
21 The reads כִּי־בִי בְעֶזְרֶךָ (ki-vi ve’ezrekha, “but in me is your help”); cf. , , . The and reflect an underlying Hebrew text of כִּי־מִי בְעֶזְרֶךָ (ki-mi ve’ezrekha, “For who will help you?”). The interrogative מִי (“Who?”) harmonizes well with the interrogatives in 13:9–10 and should be adopted, as the editors suggest; the reading is also followed by , , , .

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

but when they had grazed, they became full,

they were filled, and their heart was lifted up;

therefore they forgot me.

So I am to them like a lion;

like a leopard I will lurk beside the way.

I will fall upon them like a bear robbed of her cubs;

I will tear open their breast,

and there I will devour them like a lion,

as a wild beast would rip them open.

He destroys you, O Israel,

for you are against me, against your helper.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

When I fed them, they were satisfied;

when they were satisfied, they became proud;

then they forgot me.

So I will be like a lion to them,

like a leopard I will lurk by the path.

Like a bear robbed of her cubs,

I will attack them and rip them open;

like a lion I will devour them—

a wild animal will tear them apart.

“You are destroyed, Israel,

because you are against me, against your helper.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

When they had pasture,

they became satisfied;

they were satisfied,

and their hearts became proud.

Therefore they forgot me.

So I will be like a lion to them;

I will lurk like a leopard on the path.

I will attack them

like a bear robbed of her cubs

and tear open the rib cage over their hearts.

I will devour them there like a lioness,

like a wild beast that would rip them open.

I will destroy you, Israel;

you have no help but me.

NLTNew Living Translation

But when you had eaten and were satisfied,

you became proud and forgot me.

So now I will attack you like a lion,

like a leopard that lurks along the road.

Like a bear whose cubs have been taken away,

I will tear out your heart.

I will devour you like a hungry lioness

and mangle you like a wild animal.

“You are about to be destroyed, O Israel—

yes, by me, your only helper.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

When I fed them, they were satisfied;

they were satisfied and their heart was lifted up;

therefore they forgot me.

And I will be like a lion to them;

I lie in wait beside the way, like a leopard.

I will attack them like a bear robbed of her offspring,

and I will tear open the covering of their heart;

there I will devour them like a lion,

like an animal of the field would mutilate them.

I will destroy you, O Israel;

who will help you?

KJV 1900King James Version

According to their pasture, so were they filled;

They were filled, and their heart was exalted;

Therefore have they forgotten me.

Therefore I will be unto them as a lion:

As a leopard by the way will I observe them:

I will meet them as a bear that is bereaved of her whelps,

And will rend the caul of their heart,

And there will I devour them like a lion:

The wild beast shall tear them.

O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; but in me is thine help.

Public Domain