Hosea 8:1-10 ▼

1 Put the ram’s horn to your mouth! One like an eagle comes against the house of the LORD, because they transgress my covenant and rebel against my law.

2 Israel cries out to me, “My God, we know you! ”

3 Israel has rejected what is good; an enemy will pursue him.

4 They have installed kings, but not through me. They have appointed leaders, but without my approval. They make their silver and gold into idols for themselves for their own destruction.

5 Your calf-idol is rejected, Samaria. My anger burns against them. How long will they be incapable of innocence?

6 For this thing is from Israel — a craftsman made it, and it is not God. The calf of Samaria will be smashed to bits!

7 Indeed, they sow the wind and reap the whirlwind. There is no standing grain; what sprouts fails to yield flour. Even if they did, foreigners would swallow it up.

8 Israel is swallowed up! Now they are among the nations like discarded pottery.

9 For they have gone up to Assyria like a wild donkey going off on its own. Ephraim has paid for love.

10 Even though they hire lovers among the nations, I will now round them up, and they will begin to decrease in number under the burden of the king and leaders.