Jacob fled into the country of Syria, and Israel served for a wife, and for a wife he kept sheep.
[13] And
by a prophet the LORD brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet was he preserved.
[14] Ephraim
provoked him to anger most bitterly: therefore shall he leave his blood upon him, and his reproach shall
his Lord return unto him.
Hos.13
[1] When Ephraim spake trembling, he exalted himself in Israel; but when he offended in Baal, he died.
[2]
And now they sin more and more, and have made them molten images of their silver, and idols according
to their own understanding, all of it the work of the craftsmen: they say of them, Let the men that sacrifice
kiss the calves.
[3] Therefore they shall be as the morning cloud, and as the early dew that passeth away,
as the chaff that is driven with the whirlwind out of the floor, and as the smoke out of the chimney.
[4]
Yet I am the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt, and thou shalt know no god but me: for there is no
saviour beside me.
[5] I did know thee in the wilderness, in the land of great drought.
[6] According to
their pasture, so were they filled; they were filled, and their heart was exalted; therefore have they forgotten
me.
[7] Therefore I will be unto them as a lion: as a leopard by the way will I observe them:
[8] 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.
[9] O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; but in me is thine
help.
[10] I will be thy king: where is any other that may save thee in all thy cities? and thy judges of whom
thou saidst, Give me a king and princes?
[11] I gave thee a king in mine anger, and took him away in
my wrath.
[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.
[15] Though
he be fruitful among his brethren, an east wind shall come, the wind of the LORD shall come up from
the wilderness, and his spring shall become dry, and his fountain shall be dried up: he shall spoil the
treasure of all pleasant vessels.
[16] Samaria shall become desolate; for she hath rebelled against her
God: they shall fall by the sword: their infants shall be dashed in pieces, and their women with child shall
be ripped up.
Hos.14
[1] O Israel, return unto the LORD thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity.
[2] Take with you words,
and turn to the LORD: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render
the calves of our lips.
[3] Asshur shall not save us; we will not ride upon horses: neither will we say any
more to the work of our hands, Ye are our gods: for in thee the fatherless findeth mercy.
[4] I will heal
their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him.
[5] I will be as the dew
unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon.
[6] His branches shall spread,
and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon.
[7] They that dwell under his shadow
shall return; they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine: the scent thereof shall be as the wine of
Lebanon.
[8] Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? I have heard him, and observed
him: I am like a green fir tree. From me is thy fruit found.
[9] Who is wise, and he shall understand these
things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the LORD are right, and the just shall walk in
them: but the transgressors shall fall therein.