1 S et the trumpet to thy mouth. As an eagle he cometh against the house of Jehovah, 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 T hey shall cry unto me, My God, we Israel know thee.

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

3 I srael hath cast off that which 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 H e hath cast off thy calf, O Samaria; 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 is even this; the workman made it, and it is no God; yea, 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 sow the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind: he hath no standing grain; the blade shall yield no meal; if so be it yield, 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 are they among the nations as a vessel wherein none delighteth.

“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, like 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 hire among the nations, now will I gather them; and they begin to be diminished by reason of 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 multiplied altars for sinning, altars have been unto him for sinning.

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

12 I wrote for him the ten thousand things of my law; but they are counted as a strange thing.

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

13 A s for the sacrifices of mine offerings, they sacrifice flesh and eat it; but Jehovah 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 builded palaces; and Judah hath multiplied fortified cities: but I will send a fire upon his cities, and it shall devour the castles 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.”