Osee 8
1 [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.
Set the cornet to thy mouth. [Let the enemy come] like the eagle against the house of the Lord: because they have transgressed my covenant, and against my law have they trespassed.
2 They shall soon cry out to me, [saying], O God, we know you.
To me will they then cry, My God, we, Israel, know thee.
3 For Israel has turned away from good things; they have pursued an enemy.
[But] Israel did reject the good; so let the enemy pursue him.
4 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.
They set up kings, but not my advice: they chose princes and I knew it not: of their silver and their gold have they made themselves idols so that they will be cut off.
5 Cast off your calf, O Samaria; mine anger is kindled against them: how long will they be unable to purge themselves in Israel?
Thy calf, O Samaria, hath caused thy rejection; my anger is kindled against them: how long will it be that they cannot cleanse themselves?
6 Whereas the workman made it, and it is not God; therefore your calf, Samaria, was a deceiver:
For whom Israel did also that [idol] spring; an artisan made it, and no God is it: so then shall it become broken in splinters— that calf of Samaria.
7 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.
For the wind do they sow, and the whirlwind shall they reap: [their seed] bringeth no standing corn; the plant yieldeth no meal; but should it yield it, strangers would swallow it up.
8 Israel is swallowed up: now is he become amongst the nations as a worthless vessel.
Swallowed up is Israel: now are they among the nations as a vessel without any value.
9 For they have gone up to the Assyrians: Ephraim has been strengthened against himself; they loved gifts.
For they are needs gone up to Assyria, they who like a wild ass should dwell alone: Ephraim spendeth lovers' gifts.
10 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.
But even though they should spend gifts among the nations, now will I gather them: and they shall be humbled a little through the burden of the king of princes.
11 Because Ephraim has multiplied altars, [his] beloved altars are become sins to him.
Because Ephraim hath multiplied altars to sin, the altars have been unto him the means of sinning.
12 I will write down a multitude [of commands] for him; but his statutes are accounted strange things, [even] the beloved altars.
I ever wrote down for him the great things of my law; but as a strange thing are they accounted.
13 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.
My sacrificial offerings they slay as common flesh that they may eat it; the Lord accepteth them not in favor: now will he remember their iniquity, and visit their sins; they shall indeed return to Egypt.
14 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.
For Israel forgot his Maker, and built palaces; and Judah multiplied fortified cities; but I will send a fire among his cities, and it shall devour their fine edifices.
