1 S et the trumpet to thy mouth. He shall come as an eagle against the house of the Lord, because they have transgressed my covenant, and trespassed against my law.

“Put the horn to your lips! Men who hate us are coming like an eagle to fight against the house of the Lord, because the people of Israel have sinned against My agreement and would not obey My Law.

2 I srael shall cry unto me, My God, we know thee.

They cry out to Me, ‘My God, we of Israel know You!’

3 I srael hath cast off the thing that is good: the enemy shall pursue him.

Israel has turned away from the good, and those who hate him will come after him.

4 T hey have set up kings, but not by me: they have made princes, and I knew it not: of their silver and their gold have they made them idols, that they may be cut off.

They have set up kings, but not by Me. They have chosen leaders, but I did not know it. They have made false gods for themselves out of silver and gold, so they will be destroyed.

5 T hy calf, O Samaria, hath cast thee off; mine anger is kindled against them: how long will it be ere they attain to innocency?

O Samaria, I will have nothing to do with the calf you worship. My anger burns against them! How long will it be before they are pure

6 F or from Israel was it also: the workman made it; therefore it is not God: but the calf of Samaria shall be broken in pieces.

in Israel? A workman made this calf, so it is not God. The calf of Samaria will be broken to pieces.

7 F or they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind: it hath no stalk: the bud shall yield no meal: if so be it yield, the strangers shall swallow it up.

They plant the wind and they will gather the storm. The standing grain has no heads, and will give no food. If it were to give food, strangers would eat it.

8 I srael is swallowed up: now shall they be among the Gentiles as a vessel wherein is no pleasure.

“Israel is eaten up. They are now among the nations like a pot that is of no worth.

9 F or they are gone up to Assyria, a wild ass alone by himself: Ephraim hath hired lovers.

They have gone up to Assyria like a wild donkey all alone. Ephraim has hired lovers.

10 Y ea, though they have hired among the nations, now will I gather them, and they shall sorrow a little for the burden of the king of princes.

Even when they hire people among the nations to help them, I will now gather them together. And they will begin to waste away because the powerful king will make it hard for them.

11 B ecause Ephraim hath made many altars to sin, altars shall be unto him to sin.

“Because Ephraim has made many altars for sin gifts, they have become altars for sinning.

12 I have written to him the great things of my law, but they were counted as a strange thing.

I wrote 10, 000 of My Laws for him, but they think of them as something strange.

13 T hey sacrifice flesh for the sacrifices of mine offerings, and eat it; but the Lord accepteth them not; now will he remember their iniquity, and visit their sins: they shall return to Egypt.

They give gifts to Me and eat the meat of the gifts, but the Lord is not pleased with them. Now He will remember their wrong-doing and punish them for their sins. They will return to Egypt.

14 F or Israel hath forgotten his Maker, and buildeth temples; and Judah hath multiplied fenced cities: but I will send a fire upon his cities, and it shall devour the palaces thereof.

Israel has forgotten his Maker and built great houses. And Judah has built many strong cities ready for battle. But I will send a fire upon its cities that will destroy its beautiful houses.”