1. When Ephraim spoke, trembling,He exalted himself in Israel;But when he offended through Baal worship, he died.
2. Now they sin more and more,And have made for themselves molded images,Idols of their silver, according to their skill;All of it is the work of craftsmen.They say of them,“Let the men who sacrifice kiss the calves!”
3. Therefore they shall be like the morning cloudAnd like the early dew that passes away,Like chaff blown off from a threshing floorAnd like smoke from a chimney.
4. “Yet I am the Lord your GodEver since the land of Egypt,And you shall know no God but Me;For there is no savior besides Me.
5. I knew you in the wilderness,In the land of great drought.
6. When they had pasture, they were filled;They were filled and their heart was exalted;Therefore they forgot Me.
7. “So I will be to them like a lion;Like a leopard by the road I will lurk;
8. I will meet them like a bear deprived of her cubs;I will tear open their rib cage,And there I will devour them like a lion.The wild beast shall tear them.