Hosea 8

1 Set the trumpet to thy mouth. As an eagle he comes against the house of Jehovah, because they have transgressed my covenant, and trespassed against my law.

“Put the trumpet to your lips! Something like an eagle is over the LORD’s house, because they have broken my covenant and rebelled against my law.

2 They shall cry to me, My God, we, Israel know thee.

They cry to me, ‘My God, we, Israel, acknowledge you!’

3 Israel has cast off that which is good. The enemy shall pursue him.

Israel has cast off that which is good. The enemy will pursue him.

4 They have set up kings, but not by me. They have made rulers, and I knew it not. They have made themselves idols of their silver and their gold, that they may be cut off.

They have set up kings, but not by me. They have made princes, and I did not approve. Of their silver and their gold they have made themselves idols, that they may be cut off.

5 He has cast off thy calf, O Samaria. My anger is kindled against them. How long will it be ere they attain to innocence?

Let Samaria throw out his calf idol! My anger burns against them! How long will it be until they are capable of purity?

6 For even this is from Israel: the workman made it, and it is no God. Yea, the calf of Samaria shall be broken in pieces.

For this is even from Israel! The workman made it, and it is no God; indeed, the calf of Samaria shall be broken in pieces.

7 For they sow the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind. He has no standing grain. The blade shall yield no meal. If so be it yields, strangers shall swallow it up.

For they sow the wind, and they will reap the whirlwind. He has no standing grain. The stalk will yield no head. If it does yield, strangers will swallow it up.

8 Israel is swallowed up. They are now among the nations as a vessel in which no man delights.

Israel is swallowed up. Now they are among the nations like a worthless thing.

9 For they have gone up to Assyria like a wild donkey alone by himself. Ephraim has hired lovers.

For they have gone up to Assyria, like a wild donkey wandering alone. Ephraim has hired lovers for himself.

10 Yea, though they hire among the nations, I will now gather them, and they shall begin to be diminished because of the burden of the king of rulers.

But although they sold themselves among the nations, I will now gather them; and they begin to waste away because of the oppression of the king of mighty ones.

11 Because Ephraim has multiplied altars for sinning, altars have been to him for sinning.

Because Ephraim has multiplied altars for sinning, they became for him altars for sinning.

12 I wrote for him the multitude of my law, but they are counted as a strange thing.

I wrote for him the many things of my law, but they were regarded as a strange thing.

13 As for the sacrifices of my offerings, they sacrifice flesh and eat it, but Jehovah does not accept them. He will now remember their iniquity, and visit their sins. They shall return to Egypt.

As for the sacrifices of my offerings, they sacrifice meat and eat it, but the LORD does not accept them. Now he will remember their iniquity, and punish their sins. They will return to Egypt.

14 For Israel has forgotten his maker, and built palaces. And Judah has multiplied fortified cities. But I will send a fire upon his cities, and it shall devour the castles thereof.

For Israel has forgotten his Maker and built palaces; and Judah has multiplied fortified cities; but I will send a fire on his cities, and it will devour its fortresses.”