3. Therefore they will disappear like the morning mist,like early morning dew that evaporates,like chaff that is blown away from a threshing floor,like smoke that disappears through an open window.
4. But I am the Lord your God,who brought you out of Egypt.Therefore, you must not acknowledge any God but me;except me there is no Savior.
5. I cared for you in the wilderness,in the dry desert where no water was.
6. When they were fed, they became satisfied;when they were satisfied, they became proud;as a result, they forgot me!
7. So I will pounce on them like a lion;like a leopard I will lurk by the path.
8. I will attack them like a bear robbed of her cubs – I will rip open their chests.I will devour them there like a lion – like a wild animal would tear them apart.
9. I will destroy you, O Israel!Who is there to help you?
10. Where then is your king, that he may save you in all your cities?Where are your rulers for whom you asked, saying,“Give me a king and princes”?
11. I granted you a king in my anger,and I will take him away in my wrath!
12. The punishment of Ephraim has been decreed;his punishment is being stored up for the future.
13. The labor pains of a woman will overtake him,but the baby will lack wisdom;when the time arrives,he will not come out of the womb!
14. Will I deliver them from the power of Sheol? No, I will not!Will I redeem them from death? No, I will not!O Death, bring on your plagues!O Sheol, bring on your destruction!My eyes will not show any compassion!
15. Even though he flourishes like a reed plant,a scorching east wind will come,a wind from the Lord rising up from the desert.As a result, his spring will dry up;his well will become dry.That wind will spoil all his delightful foodsin the containers in his storehouse.
16. (14:1) Samaria will be held guilty,because she rebelled against her God.They will fall by the sword,their infants will be dashed to the ground – their pregnant women will be ripped open.