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.

Put the horn to your mouth! An eagle swoops down upon the house of the Lord because they have transgressed my covenant, trespassed against my law.

2 To me will they then cry, My God, we, Israel, know thee.

To me they continually cry, ‘My God, we Israel, we know you!’

3 [But] Israel did reject the good; so let the enemy pursue him.

But Israel has spurned that which is good, so let the foe pursue him.

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 themselves have made kings but without my consent. They have made princes but without my knowledge. Out of their silver and gold, they have made idols to their destruction!

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?

Your calf idol, O Samaria, is distasteful. My anger is kindled against them. How long will they escape punishment?

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.

Israel made the thing: a workman made it. It is not a god! Samaria’s calf will become mere splinters.

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.

They sow the wind and will reap the whirlwind. A shoot which has no stalk, yields no fruit If it should yield, strangers would devour it.

8 Swallowed up is Israel: now are they among the nations as a vessel without any value.

Israel is devoured. Already it lies discarded among the nations like a worthless pot.

9 For they are needs gone up to Assyria, they who like a wild ass should dwell alone: Ephraim spendeth lovers' gifts.

For by themselves they have gone up to Assyria like a wild donkey which wanders by itself. Ephraim pays for love

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.

but even if they sell themselves among the nations, I will round them up. Soon the kings and princes will writhe under the burden of tribute!

11 Because Ephraim hath multiplied altars to sin, the altars have been unto him the means of sinning.

For as many altars as Ephraim has erected, they are to him altars for sinning,

12 I ever wrote down for him the great things of my law; but as a strange thing are they accounted.

were I to write for him ever so many instructions, they would be regarded as from a stranger.

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.

The people love sacrifice, and so they offer sacrifices, meat, and so they eat it, although the Lord is not pleased with them, so now he will remember their guilt, and punish their sins. Back to Egypt with them!

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.

For Israel forgot his Maker and built palaces, and Judah multiplied fortified cities. But I will send fire upon her cities, and it will devour her strongholds.