Hosea 8:2-14 ▼

2 They have called to me, saying, O our God, we know thee.

3 Israel has forgotten the good; the enemy has pursued him.

4 They have set up kings, but not by me; they have made princes, but they did not let me know; of their silver and their gold they have made idols to themselves, that they may perish.

5 They have been led astray by your calf, O Samaria; my anger is kindled against them; how long will it be before they can be declared innocent?

6 For the idol is the product of Israel; a carpenter made it, therefore it is not God; but your calf, O Samaria, was made for deception.

7 For they have sown the wind, and they have reaped the whirlwind; it has no stalk, nor an ear to yield meal; and if it were to yield, the strangers shall eat it.

8 Israel is swallowed up; now they are among the Gentiles as a vessel wherein is no use.

9 For they are gone up to Assyria, as a wild ass alone by himself; Ephraim has loved gifts.

10 Though they shall be delivered up to the Gentiles, I will gather them, and they shall rest a while from the burden of the kings and the princes.

11 Because Ephraim has made many altars to sin, altars have become to him for a great sin.

12 I have written to him many of my laws, but my words he considered as a strange thing.

13 They sacrifice the choicest of animals and eat the meat; but the LORD has no delight in them; now he will remember their iniquity and punish them for their sins; they shall return to Egypt.

14 For Israel has forgotten his Maker and built palaces; and Judah has multiplied fortified cities: but I will kindle a fire in his cities, and it shall devour the palaces thereof.