Osee 8
1 [He shall come] into their midst as the land, as an eagle against the house of the Lord, because they have transgressed my covenant, and have sinned 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 shall soon cry out to me, [saying], O God, we know you.
To me they continually cry, ‘My God, we Israel, we know you!’
3 For Israel has turned away from good things; they have pursued an enemy.
But Israel has spurned that which is good, so let the foe pursue him.
4 They have made kings for themselves, but not by me: they have ruled, but they did not make it known to me: [of] their silver and their gold they have made images to themselves, that they might be destroyed.
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 Cast off your calf, O Samaria; mine anger is kindled against them: how long will they be unable to purge themselves in Israel?
Your calf idol, O Samaria, is distasteful. My anger is kindled against them. How long will they escape punishment?
6 Whereas the workman made it, and it is not God; therefore your calf, Samaria, was a deceiver:
Israel made the thing: a workman made it. It is not a god! Samaria’s calf will become mere splinters.
7 for they sowed blighted [seed], and their destruction shall await them, a sheaf of corn that avails not to make meal; and even if it should produce it, strangers shall devour it.
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 is he become among the nations as a worthless vessel.
Israel is devoured. Already it lies discarded among the nations like a worthless pot.
9 For they have gone up to the Assyrians: Ephraim has been strengthened against himself; they loved gifts.
For by themselves they have gone up to Assyria like a wild donkey which wanders by itself. Ephraim pays for love
10 Therefore shall they be delivered to the nations: now I will receive them, and they shall cease a little to anoint a king and 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 has multiplied altars, [his] beloved altars are become sins to him.
For as many altars as Ephraim has erected, they are to him altars for sinning,
12 I will write down a multitude [of commands] for him; but his statutes are accounted strange things, [even] the beloved altars.
were I to write for him ever so many instructions, they would be regarded as from a stranger.
13 For if they should offer a sacrifice, and eat flesh, the lord will not accept them: now will he remember their iniquities, and will take vengeance on their sins: they have returned to Egypt, and they shall eat unclean things among the Assyrians.
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 And Israel has forgotten him that made him, and they have built fanes, and Juda has multiplied walled cities: but I will send fire on his cities, and it shall devour their foundations.
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.
