Hosea 8

1 [SET] the trumpet to thy mouth. As an eagle [he cometh] against the house of the LORD: 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 unto me, My God, we Israel know thee.

They cry to me, 'My God, we Israel acknowledge you.'

3 Israel hath 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 princes, and I knew it not: of their silver and their gold have they made them idols, 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 hath cast off thy calf, O Samaria; mine anger is kindled against them: how long will it be ere they attain to innocency?

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 from Israel is even this; 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 hath no standing corn; the blade shall yield no meal; if so be it yield, 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: now are they among the nations as a vessel wherein is no pleasure.

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

9 For they are gone up to Assyria, [like] a wild ass alone by himself: Ephraim hath 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, now will I gather them; and they begin to be minished by reason of the burden of the king of princes.

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 hath multiplied altars to sin, altars have been unto him to sin.

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

12 Though I write for him my law in ten thousand [precepts], 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 mine offerings, they sacrifice flesh and eat it; but the LORD accepteth them not: now will he remember their iniquity, and visit their sins; they shall return to Egypt.

As for the sacrifices of my offerings, they sacrifice flesh and eat it; But the LORD doesn't accept them. Now he will remember their iniquity, and punish their sins. They will return to Egypt, and will eat unclean things in Assyria.

14 For Israel hath forgotten his Maker, and builded palaces; and Judah hath multiplied fenced 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."