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1. "The tribe of Ephraim made itself very important in Israel. Ephraim spoke and people shook with fear. But Ephraim sinned by worshiping Baal.
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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. Now the Israelites sin more and more. They make idols for themselves. Workers make those fancy statues from silver, and then they talk to their statues. They offer sacrifices to them, and they kiss those calf idols.
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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. That is why those people will soon disappear. They will be like a fog that comes early in the morning and then quickly disappears. The Israelites will be like chaff that is blown from the threshing floor. The Israelites will be like smoke that goes out a window and disappears.
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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 have been the Lord your God since the time you were in the land of Egypt. You did not know any other god except me. I am the one who saved you.
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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 knew you in the desert�I knew you in that dry land.
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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 food to the Israelites, and they ate it. They became full and satisfied. They became proud, and then they 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. I will be 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 them like a bear whose cubs were robbed from her. I will attack them and rip open their chests. I will be like a lion or other wild animal tearing and eating its prey.
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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 helped you, but you turned against me. So now I will destroy you.
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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. Where is your king? Can he save you in any of your cities? Where are your judges? You asked for them, saying, 'Give me 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. I was angry, and I gave you a king. And when I became very angry, I took him away.
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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. "Ephraim tried to hide his guilt. He thought his sins were a secret, but he will be punished.
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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. His punishment will be like the pain of a woman giving birth. He will not be a wise son. The time will come for his birth, and he will not survive.
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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. "I will save them from the grave. I will rescue them from death. Death, where are your diseases? Grave, where is your power? I am not looking for revenge.
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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 grows among his brothers, but a powerful east wind will come� the Lord's wind will blow from the desert. Then his well will dry up. His spring of water will be dry. The wind will take away anything 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. Samaria must be punished because she turned against her God. The Israelites will be killed with swords. 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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