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1. People used to fear the tribe of Ephraim; they were important people in Israel. But they sinned by worshiping Baal, so they must die.
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1. When Ephraim H669 spoke H1696 trembling H7578 , he H1931 exalted H5375 himself in Israel H3478 ; but when he offended H816 in Baal H1168 , he died H4191 .
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2. But they still keep on sinning more and more. They make idols of their silver, idols that are cleverly made, the work of a craftsman. Yet the people of Israel say to each other, "Kiss those calf idols and sacrifice to them."
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2. And now H6258 they sin H2398 more and more H3254 , and have made H6213 them molten images H4541 of their silver H4480 H3701 , and idols H6091 according to their own understanding H8394 , all H3605 of it the work H4639 of the craftsmen H2796 : they H1992 say H559 of them , Let the men H120 that sacrifice H2076 kiss H5401 the calves H5695 .
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3. So those people will be like the morning mist; they will disappear like the morning dew. They will be like chaff blown from the threshing floor, like smoke going out a window.
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3. Therefore H3651 they shall be H1961 as the morning H1242 cloud H6051 , and as the early H7925 dew H2919 that passeth away H1980 , as the chaff H4671 that is driven with the whirlwind H5590 out of the floor H4480 H1637 , and as the smoke H6227 out of the chimney H4480 H699 .
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4. "I, the Lord, have been your God since you were in the land of Egypt. You should have known no other God except me. I am the only one who saves.
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4. Yet I H595 am the LORD H3068 thy God H430 from the land H4480 H776 of Egypt H4714 , and thou shalt know H3045 no H3808 god H430 but H2108 me : for there is no H369 savior H3467 beside H1115 me.
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5. I cared for them in the desert where it was hot and dry.
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5. I H589 did know H3045 thee in the wilderness H4057 , in the land H776 of great drought H8514 .
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6. I gave them food, and they became full and satisfied. But then they became too proud and forgot me.
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6. According to their pasture H4830 , so were they filled H7646 ; they were filled H7646 , and their heart H3820 was exalted H7311 ; therefore H5921 H3651 have they forgotten H7911 me.
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7. That is why I will be like a lion to them, like a leopard waiting by the road.
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7. Therefore I will be H1961 unto them as H3644 a lion H7826 : as a leopard H5246 by H5921 the way H1870 will I observe H7789 them :
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8. I will attack like a bear robbed of her cubs, ripping their bodies open. I will devour them like a lion and tear them apart like a wild animal.
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8. I will meet H6298 them as a bear H1677 that is bereaved H7909 of her whelps , and will rend H7167 the caul H5458 of their heart H3820 , and there H8033 will I devour H398 them like a lion H3833 : the wild H7704 beast H2416 shall tear H1234 them.
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9. "Israel, I will destroy you. Who will be your helper then?
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9. O Israel H3478 , thou hast destroyed H7843 thyself; but H3588 in me is thine help H5828 .
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10. What good is your king? Can he save you in any of your towns? What good are your leaders? You said, 'Give us a king and leaders.'
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10. I will be H165 thy king H4428 : where H645 is any other that may save H3467 thee in all H3605 thy cities H5892 ? and thy judges H8199 of whom H834 thou saidst H559 , Give H5414 me a king H4428 and princes H8269 ?
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11. So I gave you a king, but only in anger, and I took him away in my great anger.
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11. I gave H5414 thee a king H4428 in mine anger H639 , and took him away H3947 in my wrath H5678 .
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12. The sins of Israel are on record, stored away, waiting for punishment.
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12. The iniquity H5771 of Ephraim H669 is bound up H6887 ; his sin H2403 is hid H6845 .
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13. The pain of birth will come for him, but he is like a foolish baby who won't come out of its mother's womb.
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13. The sorrows H2256 of a travailing woman H3205 shall come H935 upon him: he H1931 is an unwise H3808 H2450 son H1121 ; for H3588 he should not H3808 stay H5975 long H6256 in the place of the breaking forth H4866 of children H1121 .
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14. Will I save them from the place of the dead? Will I rescue them from death? Where is your sickness, death? Where is your pain, place of death? I will show them no mercy.
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14. I will ransom H6299 them from the power H4480 H3027 of the grave H7585 ; I will redeem H1350 them from death H4480 H4194 : O death H4194 , I will be H165 thy plagues H1698 ; O grave H7585 , I will be H165 thy destruction H6987 : repentance H5164 shall be hid H5641 from mine eyes H4480 H5869 .
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15. Israel is doing well among the nations, but the Lord will send a wind from the east, coming from the desert, that will dry up his springs and wells of water. He will destroy from their treasure houses everything of value.
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15. Though H3588 he H1931 be fruitful H6500 among H996 his brethren H251 , an east wind H6921 shall come H935 , the wind H7307 of the LORD H3068 shall come up H5927 from the wilderness H4480 H4057 , and his spring H4726 shall become dry H954 , and his fountain H4599 shall be dried up H2717 : he H1931 shall spoil H8154 the treasure H214 of all H3605 pleasant H2532 vessels H3627 .
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16. The nation of Israel will be ruined, because it fought against God. The people of Israel will die in war; their children will be torn to pieces, and their pregnant women will be ripped open."
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16. Samaria H8111 shall become desolate H816 ; for H3588 she hath rebelled H4784 against her God H430 : they shall fall H5307 by the sword H2719 : their infants H5768 shall be dashed in pieces H7376 , and their women with child H2030 shall be ripped up H1234 .
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