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