Hosea 8

1 “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.

[He shall come] into their midst as the land, as an eagle against the house of the Lord, because they have transgressed my covenant, and have sinned against my law.

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

They shall soon cry out to me, [saying], O God, we know you.

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

For Israel has turned away from good things; they have pursued an enemy.

4 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.

They have made kings for themselves, but not by me: they have ruled, but they did not make it known to me: [of] their silver and their gold they have made images to themselves, that they might be destroyed.

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

Cast off your calf, O Samaria; mine anger is kindled against them: how long will they be unable to purge themselves in Israel?

6 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.

Whereas the workman made it, and it is not God; therefore your calf, Samaria, was a deceiver:

7 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.

for they sowed blighted [seed], and their destruction shall await them, a sheaf of corn that avails not to make meal; and even if it should produce it, strangers shall devour it.

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

Israel is swallowed up: now is he become amongst the nations as a worthless vessel.

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

For they have gone up to the Assyrians: Ephraim has been strengthened against himself; they loved gifts.

10 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.

Therefore shall they be delivered to the nations: now I will receive them, and they shall cease a little to anoint a king and princes.

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

Because Ephraim has multiplied altars, [his] beloved altars are become sins to him.

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

I will write down a multitude [of commands] for him; but his statutes are accounted strange things, [even] the beloved altars.

13 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.

For if they should offer a sacrifice, and eat flesh, the lord will not accept them: now will he remember their iniquities, and will take vengeance on their sins: they have returned to Egypt, and they shall eat unclean things amongst the Assyrians.

14 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.”

And Israel has forgotten him that made him, and they have built fanes, and Juda has multiplied walled cities: but I will send fire on his cities, and it shall devour their foundations.