Israel Will Reap the Whirlwind

1Let there be a trumpet in your throat, like an eagle over the house of the Lord, on behalf of those who have transgressed my covenant and violated my law.

2They will call on me: “O my God, we, Israel, know you.”

3Israel has thrown away goodness; the enemy will overtake him.

4They have reigned, but not by me. Leaders have emerged, and I did not recognize them. Their silver and their gold, they have made into idols for themselves, so that they might cross over.

5Your calf, Samaria, has been rejected. My fury has been enraged against them. How long will they be incapable of being cleansed?

6For it is itself also from Israel: a workman made it, and it is not God. For the calf of Samaria will be used for the webs of spiders.

7For they will sow wind and reap a whirlwind. It does not have a firm stalk; the bud will yield no grain. But if it does yield, strangers will eat it.

8Israel has been devoured. Now, among the nations, it has become like an unclean vessel.

9For they have gone up to Assur, a wild ass alone by himself. Ephraim has given presents to his lovers.

10But even when they will have brought the nations together for the sake of money, now I will assemble them. And they will rest for a little while from the burden of the king and the leaders.

11For Ephraim multiplied altars to sin, and sanctuaries have become an offense for him.

12I will write to him my intricate laws, which have been treated like strangers.

13They will offer victims, they will immolate flesh and will eat, and the Lord will not accept them. For now he will remember their iniquity, and he will repay their sins: they will be turned back to Egypt.

14And Israel has forgotten his Maker and has built shrines. And Judah has increased its fortified cities. And I will send fire upon his cities, and it will devour its structures.