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.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.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.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.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.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.
1Set the trumpet to your lips! One like a vulture is over the house of the Lord, because they have transgressed my covenant and rebelled against my law. (De 28:49; Ho 5:8; Ho 6:7)2To me they cry, “My God, we—Israel—know you.” (Mt 7:21)3Israel has spurned the good; the enemy shall pursue him.4They made kings, but not through me. They set up princes, but I knew it not. With their silver and gold they made idols for their own destruction. (1Ki 12:20; 2Ch 13:5; Ho 7:7)5I have[1] spurned your calf, O Samaria. My anger burns against them. How long will they be incapable of innocence? (1Ki 12:28; Jer 13:27; Ho 10:5)6For it is from Israel; a craftsman made it; it is not God. The calf of Samaria shall be broken to pieces.[2] (Ho 8:5; Mic 1:6)7For they sow the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind. The standing grain has no heads; it shall yield no flour; if it were to yield, strangers would devour it. (Ho 7:9; Ho 10:12)8Israel is swallowed up; already they are among the nations as a useless vessel. (2Ki 17:6; Jer 22:28)9For they have gone up to Assyria, a wild donkey wandering alone; Ephraim has hired lovers. (Jer 2:24; Ho 5:13)10Though they hire allies among the nations, I will soon gather them up. And the king and princes shall soon writhe because of the tribute. (Eze 26:7; Ho 4:7; Ho 4:10)11Because Ephraim has multiplied altars for sinning, they have become to him altars for sinning. (Ho 10:1; Ho 12:11)12Were I to write for him my laws by the ten thousands, they would be regarded as a strange thing. (De 4:6; De 4:8)13As for my sacrificial offerings, they sacrifice meat and eat it, but the Lord does not accept them. Now he will remember their iniquity and punish their sins; they shall return to Egypt. (De 28:68; Jer 7:21; Ho 9:3; Ho 9:9; Ho 11:5; Am 4:4; Am 8:7)14For Israel has forgotten his Maker and built palaces, and Judah has multiplied fortified cities; so I will send a fire upon his cities, and it shall devour her strongholds. (Isa 17:7; Ho 6:4; Am 2:5; Am 5:11)