The Hebrew Prophets

Ya'akov fled to the land of Aram. There Isra'el slaved to win a wife; for a wife he tended sheep.

By a prophet ADONAI brought Isra'el up from Egypt, and by a prophet he was protected.

Efrayim has given bitter provocation, so the penalty for his bloodshed will be thrown down on him, and his Lord will repay him for his insult.

"When Efrayim spoke, there was trembling; he was a power in Isra'el. But when he incurred guilt through Ba'al, he died.

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!

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.

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.

I knew you in the desert, in a land of terrible drought.

When they were fed, they were satisfied; when satisfied, they became proud. Therefore they forgot me.

So now I have become like a lion to them; like a leopard I will lurk by the road;

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.

It is your destruction, Isra'el, although your help is in me.

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'?

I gave you a king in my anger; and in my fury I took him away.

"Efrayim's guilt has been wrapped up, his sin is stored away.

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.

Should I ransom them from the power of Sh'ol? Should I redeem them from death?

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."

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.

Return, Isra'el, to ADONAI your God, for your guilt has made you stumble.

Take words with you, and return to ADONAI; say to him, "Forgive all guilt, and accept what is good; we will pay instead of bulls [the offerings of] our lips.

Ashur will not save us, we will not ride on horses, and we will no longer call what we made with our hands our gods. For it is only in you that the fatherless can find mercy."

"I will heal their disloyalty, I will love them freely; for my anger has turned from him.

I will be like dew to Isra'el; he will blossom like a lily and strike roots like the L'vanon.

His branches will spread out, his beauty be like an olive tree and his fragrance like the L'vanon.