Hosea 8
1 “Place a trumpet at your lips! An eagle is coming over the house of Yahweh because the people have broken my covenant and rebelled 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 cry out to me, 'My God, we in Israel know you.'
To me will they then cry, My God, we, Israel, know thee.
3 But Israel has rejected what is good, and the enemy will pursue him.
[But] Israel did reject the good; so let the enemy pursue him.
4 They have set up kings, but not by me. They have made princes, but without my knowledge. With their silver and gold they have made idols for themselves, but it was only so they might be cut off.”
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 “Your calf has been rejected, Samaria. My anger is burning against these people. For how long will they stay guilty?
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 For this idol came from Israel; a workman made it; it is not God! The calf of Samaria will be broken to pieces.
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 the people sow the wind and reap the whirlwind. The standing grain has no heads; it yields no flour. If it does come to maturity, foreigners will 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 they lie among the nations like something useless.
Swallowed up is Israel: now are they among the nations as a vessel without any value.
9 For they went up to Assyria like a wild donkey all alone. Ephraim has hired lovers for herself.
For they are needs gone up to Assyria, they who like a wild ass should dwell alone: Ephraim spendeth lovers' gifts.
10 Even though they have hired lovers among the nations, I will now gather them together. They will begin to waste away because of the oppression of the king of 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 For Ephraim has multiplied altars for sin offerings, but they have become altars for committing sins instead.
Because Ephraim hath multiplied altars to sin, the altars have been unto him the means of sinning.
12 I could write down my law for them ten thousand times, but they would view it as something strange to them.
I ever wrote down for him the great things of my law; but as a strange thing are they accounted.
13 As for the sacrifices of my offerings, they sacrifice meat and eat it, but I, Yahweh, do not accept them. Now I will think about their iniquity and punish their sins. They will return to Egypt.
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 Israel has forgotten me, his Maker, and has built palaces. Judah has fortified many cities, but I will send fire on his cities; it will destroy his fortresses.
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.
