Hosea 8
1 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.
[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 To me will they then cry, My God, we, Israel, know thee.
They shall soon cry out to me, [saying], O God, we know you.
3 [But] Israel did reject the good; so let the enemy pursue him.
For Israel has turned away from good things; they have pursued an enemy.
4 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.
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 Thy calf, O Samaria, hath caused thy rejection; my anger is kindled against them: how long will it be that they cannot cleanse themselves?
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 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.
Whereas the workman made it, and it is not God; therefore your calf, Samaria, was a deceiver:
7 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.
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 Swallowed up is Israel: now are they among the nations as a vessel without any value.
Israel is swallowed up: now is he become amongst the nations as a worthless vessel.
9 For they are needs gone up to Assyria, they who like a wild ass should dwell alone: Ephraim spendeth lovers' gifts.
For they have gone up to the Assyrians: Ephraim has been strengthened against himself; they loved gifts.
10 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.
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 hath multiplied altars to sin, the altars have been unto him the means of sinning.
Because Ephraim has multiplied altars, [his] beloved altars are become sins to him.
12 I ever wrote down for him the great things of my law; but as a strange thing are they accounted.
I will write down a multitude [of commands] for him; but his statutes are accounted strange things, [even] the beloved altars.
13 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.
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 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.
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.
