Hosea 8

1Something like an eagle is over Yahweh’s house, because they have broken my covenant, and rebelled against my law. “Put the trumpet to your lips! 2They cry to me, ‘My God, we Israel acknowledge you!’ 3Israel has cast off that which is good. The enemy will pursue him. 4They 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 have set up kings, but not by me. 5My anger burns against them! How long will it be until they are capable of purity? Let Samaria throw out his calf idol! 6The workman made it, and it is no God; indeed, the calf of Samaria shall be broken in pieces. For this is even from Israel! 7and they will reap the whirlwind. The stalk will yield no head. If it does yield, strangers will swallow it up. For they sow the wind, He has no standing grain. 8Now they are among the nations like a worthless thing. Israel is swallowed up. 9like a wild donkey wandering alone. Ephraim has hired lovers for himself. For they have gone up to Assyria, 10I will now gather them; and they begin to waste away because of the oppression of the king of mighty ones. But although they sold themselves among the nations, 11they became for him altars for sinning. Because Ephraim has multiplied altars for sinning, 12but they were regarded as a strange thing. I wrote for him the many things of my law; 13they sacrifice flesh and eat it; But Yahweh doesn’t accept them. and punish their sins. They will return to Egypt. As for the sacrifices of my offerings, Now he will remember their iniquity, 14and Judah has multiplied fortified cities; but I will send a fire on his cities, and it will devour its fortresses.” For Israel has forgotten his Maker and built palaces;