8 [a]Set the trumpet to thy mouth. As an eagle he cometh against the house of Jehovah, because they have transgressed my covenant, and trespassed against my law. 2 They shall cry unto me, My God, we Israel know thee. 3 Israel hath cast off that which is good: the enemy shall pursue him. 4 They have set up kings, but not by me; [b]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. 5 He hath cast off thy calf, O Samaria; mine anger is kindled against them: how long will it be ere they attain to innocency? 6 For from Israel is even this; the workman made it, and it is no God; yea, the calf of Samaria shall be broken in pieces. 7 For they sow the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind: [c]he hath no standing grain; the blade shall yield no meal; if so be it yield, strangers shall swallow it up.
8 Israel is swallowed up: now are they among the nations as a vessel wherein none delighteth. 9 For they are gone up to Assyria, like a wild ass alone by himself: Ephraim hath hired [d]lovers. 10 Yea, though they hire among the nations, now will I gather them; and they [e]begin to be diminished by reason of the burden of the king of princes.
11 Because Ephraim hath multiplied altars for sinning, altars have been unto him for sinning. 12 I wrote for him the ten thousand things of my law; but they are counted as a strange thing. 13 As for the sacrifices of mine offerings, they sacrifice flesh and eat it; but Jehovah accepteth them not: now will he remember their iniquity, and visit their sins; they shall return to Egypt. 14 For Israel hath forgotten his Maker, and builded [f]palaces; and Judah hath multiplied fortified cities: but I will send a fire upon his cities, and it shall devour the [g]castles thereof.
Footnotes
- Hosea 8:1 Or, The trumpet to thy mouth! As an eagle against the house of Jehovah!
- Hosea 8:4 Or, they have removed them
- Hosea 8:7 Or, it hath no stalk
- Hosea 8:9 Hebrew loves.
- Hosea 8:10 Or, as otherwise read, shall sorrow a little (or for a little while)
- Hosea 8:14 Or, temples
- Hosea 8:14 Or, palaces