Read the Bible

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.
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."
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.

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.
⁵ I cared for them in the desert
    where it was hot and dry.
⁶ I gave them food, and they became full and satisfied.
    But then they became too proud and forgot me.
⁷ That is why I will be like a lion to them,
    like a leopard waiting by the road.
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.

⁹ "Israel, I will destroy you.
    Who will be your helper then?
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.'
¹¹ So I gave you a king, but only in anger,
    and I took him away in my great anger.
¹² The sins of Israel are on record,
    stored away, waiting for punishment.
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.
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.
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.
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."