Hosea 8:1-10 ▼

1 Put the ram’s horn to your lips! An eagle looms over the house of the LORD {YHWH}, because the people have transgressed My covenant and rebelled against My law.

2 Israel (he wrestles with God) cries out to Me, “O our God {Elohay}, we know You!”

3 But Israel (he wrestles with God) has rejected good; an enemy will pursue him.

4 They set up kings, but not by Me. They make princes, but without My approval. With their silver and gold they make themselves idols, to their own destruction.

5 He has rejected your calf (calf idol), O Samaria (watch mountain). My anger burns against them. How long will they be incapable of innocence?

6 For this thing is from Israel (he wrestles with God)—a craftsman made it, and it is not God {Elohim}. It will be broken to pieces, that calf of Samaria (watch mountain).

7 For they sow the wind {ruach}, and they shall reap the whirlwind (honeycomb / overflow). There is no standing grain; what sprouts fails to yield flour. Even if it should produce, the foreigners would swallow it up.

8 Israel (he wrestles with God) is swallowed up! Now they are among the nations like a worthless vessel.

9 For they have gone up to Assyria (a step) like a wild donkey on its own. Ephraim (the northern kingdom of Israel) has hired lovers.

10 Though they hire allies among the nations, I will now round them up, and they will begin to diminish under the oppression (burden) of the king of princes.