Hosea 13:1-2

Contemporary English Version

Israel Is Doomed

The Lord said:

13 When your leaders^[a] spoke,
everyone in Israel trembled
    and showed great respect.
But you sinned by worshiping Baal,
    and you were destroyed.
²Now you continue to sin
    by designing and making
idols of silver
    in the shape of calves.
You are told to sacrifice
to these idols^[b]—
    yes, even to kiss them.

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Footnotes

13.1 your leaders: The Hebrew text has “Ephraim,” here meaning Mount Ephraim, where the royal palace of Samaria (capital of the northern kingdom of Israel) was located.
13.2 You are told … idols: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.