12 Jacob fled into the country of Syria, And Israel served for a wife, And for a wife he kept sheep. 13 By a prophet Jehovah brought up Israel out of Egypt, And by a prophet was he preserved. 14 Ephraim hath provoked his Lord most bitterly; Therefore will he leave his blood upon him, And recompense to him his reproach. XV. The destruction of Israel threatened. - CH. XIII. 1 ONCE when Ephraim spake, there was trembling ; he was exalted in Israel; But he offended through Baal, and died. 2 And now they sin more and more, 3 And have made to themselves molten images; Of their silver by their skill have they made idols; All of it is the work of the artificers. They say concerning them, Whoever will sacrifice, let him kiss the calves! Therefore shall they be as the morning cloud, And as the early dew, which passeth away; As chaff driven with a whirlwind from the thrashingfloor, And as smoke from the chimney. 4 Yet I, Jehovah, have been thy God from the land of Egypt, And thou hast known no God but me; Yea, there was no saviour besides me. I cared for thee in the desert, In the land of great drought. 6 With their pasture they were filled; They were filled, and their heart was lifted up; 7 Now will I be to them as a lion; As a leopard in the way will I watch them. 8 I will meet them as a bear bereaved of her whelps, And I will rend the caul of their heart, And there will I devour them as a lioness; The wild beast shall tear them. 9 It hath been thy destruction, O Israel, That against me, against thy help, thou hast rebelled! 10 Where is now thy king? Let him save thee in all thy cities! And where thy judges, In regard to whom thou saidst, Give me a king and princes! 11 I gave thee a king in mine anger, And I have taken him away in my wrath. 12 The iniquity of Ephraim is treasured up; It is laid up in store. 13 The pains of a travailing woman shall come upon him; He is an unwise son, For else would he not tarry long in the place of the breaking forth of children. 14 I would ransom them from the power of the grave; I would redeem them from death; O death, I would be thy plague! O grave, I would be thy destruction! But repentance is hidden from mine eyes. 15 Though he be fruitful among his brethren, An east wind shall come, A wind of Jehovah shall come up from the desert, And his fountain shall be dried up, And the treasure of all his pleasant vessels shall be spoiled. 16 Samaria shall suffer for her guilt, 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. XVI. An exhortation to repentance, and promise of the future favor of God. CH. XIV. 1 TURN, O Israel, to Jehovah thy God; For thou hast fallen by thine iniquity. 2 Take with you words, 3 4 5 And turn to Jehovah, saying, "Forgive all our iniquity, and receive us graciously, "When we offer to thee the sacrifices of our lips! "Assyria shall not help us; "We will not ride on horses; "And no more will we say to the work of our hands, "Ye are our Gods! "For from thee the fatherless obtaineth mercy." "I will heal their rebellion; I will love them freely; "For my anger is turned away from them. "I will be as the dew to Israel; "He shall bloom as the lily, "And strike his roots like Lebanon. 6 "His branches shall spread, "And his beauty shall be as the olive-tree, "And his fragrance as Lebanon. 7 "They, that dwell under his shadow, shall gather strength; 8 "Their name shall be like the wine of Lebanon. Ephraim shall say, What have I more to do with idols? “I will hear him; I will care for him; "I will be like a green olive-tree; 66 'From me shall thy fruit be found." Who is wise, that he may understand these Prudent, that he may know them? |