1. When your leaders spoke,everyone in Israel trembledand showed great respect.But you sinned by worshipping Baal,and you were destroyed.
2. Now you continue to sinby designing and makingidols of silverin the shape of calves.You are told to sacrificeto these idols—yes, even to kiss them.
3. And so, all of you will vanishlike the mist or the dewof early morning,or husks of grain in the windor smoke from a chimney.
4. I, the Lord, have been your Godsince the timeyou were in Egypt.I am the only God you know,the only one who can save.
5. I took care of youin a thirsty desert.
6. I fed you till you were satisfied,then you became proudand forgot about me.
7. Now I will attack like a lion,ambush you like a leopard,
8. and rip you apart like a bearrobbed of her cubs.I will gnaw on your bones,as though I were a lionor some other wild animal.
9. Israel, you are done for.Don't expect help from me.
10. You wanted a king and rulers.Where is your king now?What cities have rulers?
11. In my anger, I gave you a king;in my fury, I took him away.
12. Israel, your terrible sinsare written downand stored away.
13. You are like a senseless childwho refuses to be bornat the proper time.
14. Should I, the Lord, rescue youfrom death and the grave?No! I call death and the graveto strike you like a plague.I refuse to show mercy.
15. No matter how much you prospermore than the other tribes,I, the Lord, will wipe you out,just as a scorching desert winddries up streams of water.I will take awayyour precious treasures.
16. Samaria will be punishedfor turning against me.It will be destroyed in war—children will be beatenagainst rocks,and pregnant womenwill be ripped open.