1‘Put the trumpet to your lips! An eagle is over the house of the Lord because the people have broken my covenant and rebelled against my law.2Israel cries out to me, “Our God, we acknowledge you!”3But Israel has rejected what is good; an enemy will pursue him.4They set up kings without my consent; they choose princes without my approval. With their silver and gold they make idols for themselves to their own destruction.5Throw out your calf-idol, Samaria! My anger burns against them. How long will they be incapable of purity?6They are from Israel! This calf – a metalworker has made it; it is not God. It will be broken in pieces, that calf of Samaria.7‘They sow the wind and reap the whirlwind. The stalk has no head; it will produce no flour. Were it to yield grain, foreigners would swallow it up.8Israel is swallowed up; now she is among the nations like something no-one wants.9For they have gone up to Assyria like a wild donkey wandering alone. Ephraim has sold herself to lovers.10Although they have sold themselves among the nations, I will now gather them together. They will begin to waste away under the oppression of the mighty king.11‘Though Ephraim built many altars for sin offerings, these have become altars for sinning.12I wrote for them the many things of my law, but they regarded them as something foreign.13Though they offer sacrifices as gifts to me, and though they eat the meat, the Lord is not pleased with them. Now he will remember their wickedness and punish their sins: they will return to Egypt.14Israel has forgotten his Maker and built palaces; Judah has fortified many towns. But I will send fire on their cities that will consume their fortresses.’
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)