Read the Bible

¹ When Ephraim spoke,^(a) there was trembling;
he was exalted in Israel.^(b)
But he incurred guilt through Baal^(c) and died.

² Now they continue to sin
and make themselves a cast image,^(d)
idols skillfully made from their silver,^(e)
all of them the work of craftsmen.^(f)
People say about them,
"Let the men who sacrifice^[a] kiss the calves."^(g)
3 Therefore, they will be like the morning mist,^(h)
like the early dew that vanishes,
like chaff blown from a threshing floor,⁽ⁱ⁾
or like smoke from a window.^(j)

⁴ I have been Yahweh your God^(k)
ever since^[b] the land of Egypt;
you know no God but Me,^(l)
and no Savior exists besides Me.^(m)
5 I knew^[c] you in the wilderness,⁽ⁿ⁾
in the land of drought.
⁶ When they had pasture,
they became satisfied;^(o)
they were satisfied,
and their hearts became proud.^(p)
Therefore they forgot Me.^(q)
7 So I will be like a lion^(r) to them;
I will lurk like a leopard^(s) on the path.
⁸ 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,^(t)
like a wild beast that would rip them open.
⁹ I will destroy you, Israel;
you have no help but Me.^[d](u)

¹⁰ Where now is your king,^[e](v)
that he may save you in all your cities,
and the^[f] rulers^[g](w) you demanded, saying,
"Give me a king and leaders"?
¹¹ I give you a king in My anger^(x)
and take away a king in My wrath.^(y)
12 Ephraim's guilt is preserved;
his sin is stored up.^(z)
13 Labor pains come on him.^(aa)
He is not a wise son;^(ab)
when the time comes,
he will not be born.^[h](ac)

¹⁴ I will ransom them from the power of Sheol.
I will redeem^[i] them from death.^(ad)
Death, where are your barbs?
Sheol, where is your sting?^(ae)
Compassion is hidden from My eyes.^(af)

¹⁵ Although he flourishes among his brothers,^[j](ag)
an east wind will come,^(ah)
a wind from the Lord rising up from the desert.
His water source will fail,
and his spring will run dry.^(ai)
The wind^[k] will plunder the treasury^(aj)
of every precious item.

^16 [l]Samaria^(ak) will bear her guilt^(al)
because she has rebelled against her God.^(am)
They will fall by the sword;^(an)
their little ones will be dashed to pieces,^(ao)
and their pregnant women ripped open.^(ap)