The Complete Jewish Bible CJB
King James Version KJV
1 "When Efrayim spoke, there was trembling; he was a power in Isra'el. But when he incurred guilt through Ba'al, he died.
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When Ephraim spake trembling, he exalted himself in Israel; but when he offended in Baal, he died.
2 So now they keep adding sin to sin, casting images from their silver; idols they invent for themselves, all of them the work of craftsmen. 'Sacrifice to them,' they say. Men give kisses to calves!
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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 will be like a morning cloud, like the dew that disappears early, like chaff blown by wind from the threshing-floor, or like smoke that goes out the window.
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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 Still, I am ADONAI your God, from the land of Egypt; and you don't know any God but me or, other than me, any Savior.
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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 knew you in the desert, in a land of terrible drought.
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I did know thee in the wilderness, in the land of great drought.
6 When they were fed, they were satisfied; when satisfied, they became proud. Therefore they forgot me.
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According to their pasture, so were they filled; they were filled, and their heart was exalted; therefore have they forgotten me.
7 So now I have become like a lion to them; like a leopard I will lurk by the road;
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Therefore I will be unto them as a lion: as a leopard by the way will I observe them:
8 I will meet them like a bear whose cubs have been taken away. I will tear their hearts from their bodies. I will devour them there like a lion, like a wild animal ripping them up.
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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 It is your destruction, Isra'el, although your help is in me.
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O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; but in me is thine help.
10 So now, where is your king, to save you in all your cities? Where are your judges, of whom you said, 'Give me a king and leaders'?
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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 you a king in my anger; and in my fury I took him away.
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I gave thee a king in mine anger, and took him away in my wrath.
12 "Efrayim's guilt has been wrapped up, his sin is stored away.
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The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up; his sin is hid.
13 The pain of being born will come to him; but he is an unwise son. The time has come; and he shouldn't delay, there at the mouth of the womb.
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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 Should I ransom them from the power of Sh'ol? Should I redeem them from death?
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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 Where are your plagues, death; where is your destruction, Sh'ol? My eyes are closed to compassion. For though he flourishes among the reeds, an east wind will come, a wind from ADONAI, blowing up from the desert. Then his water source will dry up, then his spring will fail it will plunder his treasury, removing every precious thing."
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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 Shomron will bear her guilt, for she has rebelled against her God. They will fall by the sword, their little ones will be dashed to pieces and their pregnant women ripped open.
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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.
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
The King James Version is in the public domain.