Hosea 8

1 “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.

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 They cry to me, ‘My God, we, Israel, acknowledge you!’

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

3 Israel has cast off that which is good. The enemy will pursue him.

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

4 They have set up kings, but not by me. They have made princes, and I didn’t approve. Of their silver and their gold they have made themselves idols, that they may 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 Let Samaria throw out his calf idol! My anger burns against them! How long will it be until they are capable of purity?

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

6 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.

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

7 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.

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

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

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

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

10 But although they sold themselves amongst the nations, I will now gather them; and they begin to waste away because of the oppression of the king of mighty ones.

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

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

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

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

13 As for the sacrifices of my offerings, they sacrifice meat 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.

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 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.”

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.