Chapter 8
1 " Put the trumpet to your lips ! Something like an eagle is over Yahweh ’s house , because they have broken my covenant and rebelled against my law .
2 They cry to me , ‘ My God, we , Israel , acknowledge you !’
3 Israel has cast off that which is good . The enemy will pursue him .
4 They have set up kings , but not by me . They have made princes , and I didn’t approve. Of their silver and their gold they have made themselves idols , that they may be cut off .
5 Let Samaria throw out his calf idol! My anger burns against them ! How long will it be until they are capable of purity?
6 For this is even from Israel ! The workman made it , and it is no God ; indeed , the calf of Samaria shall be broken in pieces .
7 For they sow the wind , and they will reap the whirlwind . He has no standing grain . The stalk will yield no head. If it does yield , strangers will swallow it up .
8 Israel is swallowed up . Now they are among the nations like a worthless thing .
9 For they have gone up to Assyria, like a wild donkey wandering alone. Ephraim has hired lovers for himself.
10 But although they sold themselves among the nations , I will now gather them ; and they begin to waste away because of the oppression of the king of mighty ones.
11 Because Ephraim has multiplied altars for sinning , they became for him altars for sinning .
12 I wrote for him the many things of my law , but they were regarded as a strange thing .
13 As for the sacrifices of my offerings , they sacrifice meat and eat it , but Yahweh doesn’t accept them . Now he will remember their iniquity , and punish their sins . They will return to Egypt .
14 For Israel has forgotten his Maker and built palaces ; and Judah has multiplied fortified cities ; but I will send a fire on his cities , and it will devour its fortresses."