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.

"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 cry out to me, 'My God, we in Israel know you.'

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

3 But Israel has rejected what is good, and the enemy will 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, 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 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 “Your calf has been rejected, Samaria. My anger is burning against these people. For how long will they stay guilty?

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 this idol came from Israel; a workman made it; it is not God! The calf of Samaria will be broken to 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 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 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 they lie among the nations like something useless.

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

9 For they went up to Assyria like a wild donkey all alone. Ephraim has hired lovers for herself.

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

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 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 For Ephraim has multiplied altars for sin offerings, but they have become altars for committing sins instead.

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

12 I could write down my law for them ten thousand times, but they would view it as something strange to them.

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

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.

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 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 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."