The Fertility Worshipers Will Become Infertile

9:11 Ephraim will be like a bird;

what they value29 will fly away.

They will not bear children—

they will not enjoy pregnancy—

they will not even conceive!30

9:12 Even if they raise their children,

I will take away every last one of them.31

Woe to them!

For I will turn away from them.

9:13 Just as lion cubs are born predators,32

so Ephraim will bear his sons for slaughter.

9:14 Give them, O Lord—

what will you give them?

Give them wombs that miscarry,

and breasts that cannot nurse!33

9:15 Because of all their evil in Gilgal,

I hate them there.

On account of their evil deeds,

I will drive them out of my land.34

I will no longer love them;

all their rulers are rebels.

9:16 Ephraim will be struck down35—

their root will be dried up;

they will not yield any fruit.

Even if they do bear children,

I will kill their precious offspring.

9:17 My God will reject them,

for they have not obeyed him;

so they will be fugitives among the nations.