Hosea 8

1Set the trumpet to thy mouth. He shall come as an eagle against the house of the LORD, because they have transgressed my covenant, and trespassed against my law.footnote a

2Israel shall cry unto me, My God, we know thee.

3Israel hath cast off the thing that is good: the enemy shall pursue him.

4They have set up kings, but not by me: they have made princes, and I knew it not: of their silver and their gold have they made them idols, that they may be cut off.

5Thy calf, O Samaria, hath cast thee off; mine anger is kindled against them: how long will it be ere they attain to innocency?

6For from Israel was it also: the workman made it; therefore it is not God: but the calf of Samaria shall be broken in pieces.

7For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind: it hath no stalk: the bud shall yield no meal: if so be it yield, the strangers shall swallow it up.footnote b

8Israel is swallowed up: now shall they be among the Gentiles as a vessel wherein is no pleasure.

9For they are gone up to Assyria, a wild ass alone by himself: Ephraim hath hired lovers.footnote c

10Yea, though they have hired among the nations, now will I gather them, and they shall sorrow a little for the burden of the king of princes.footnote dfootnote e

11Because Ephraim hath made many altars to sin, altars shall be unto him to sin.

12I have written to him the great things of my law, but they were counted as a strange thing.

13They sacrifice flesh for the sacrifices of mine offerings, and eat it; but the LORD accepteth them not; now will he remember their iniquity, and visit their sins: they shall return to Egypt.footnote f

14For Israel hath forgotten his Maker, and buildeth temples; and Judah hath multiplied fenced cities: but I will send a fire upon his cities, and it shall devour the palaces thereof.

Israel Will Reap the Whirlwind

1Put the ram’s horn to your lips!An eagle looms over the house of the LORD,because the people have transgressed My covenantand rebelled against My law. 2Israel cries out to Me,“O our God, we know You!” 3But Israel has rejected good;an enemy will pursue him.

4They set up kings, but not by Me.They make princes, but without My approval.With their silver and gold they make themselves idols,to their own destruction. 5He has rejected your calf,footnote aO Samaria.My anger burns against them.How long will they beincapable of innocence? 6For this thing is from Israel—a craftsman made it, and it is not God.It will be broken to pieces,that calf of Samaria.

7For they sow the wind,and they shall reap the whirlwind.There is no standing grain;what sprouts fails to yield flour.Even if it should produce,the foreigners would swallow it up. 8Israel is swallowed up!Now they are among the nationslike a worthless vessel. 9For they have gone up to Assyrialike a wild donkey on its own.Ephraimfootnote bhas hired lovers. 10Though they hire allies among the nations,I will now round them up,and they will begin to diminishunder the oppression of the king of princes.

11Though Ephraim multiplied the altars for sin,they became his altars for sinning. 12Though I wrote for them the great things of My law,they regarded them as something strange. 13Though they offer sacrifices as gifts to Me,and though they eat the meat,the LORD does not accept them.Now He will remember their iniquity and punish their sins:They will return to Egypt. 14Israel has forgotten his Maker and built palaces;Judah has multiplied its fortified cities.But I will send fire upon their cities,and it will consume their citadels.