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.

Set the trumpet to your lips! comes as a vulture against the house of the Lord, because they have broken My covenant and transgressed against My law.

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

Then they will cry to Me, My God, we know You!

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

Israel has rejected the good; the enemy shall pursue 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 set up kings, but not from Me; they have made princes or removed them, I knew and recognized not. With their silver and their gold they made idols for themselves, that they may 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?

Your calf, O Samaria, is loathsome and I have spurned it. My wrath burns against them. How long will it be before they attain purity?

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.

For this too is from Israel; a craftsman made it; therefore it is not God. The calf of Samaria shall be broken to shivers and go up in flames.

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.

For they sow the wind and they shall reap the whirlwind. The standing grain has no heads; it shall yield no meal; if it were to yield, strangers and aliens would eat it up.

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

Israel is swallowed up. Already they have become among the nations as a vessel that is useless.

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

For they are gone up to Assyria, a wild ass taking her own way by herself; 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.

Yes, though with presents they hire among the nations, now will I gather them up, and in a little while they will sorrow and begin to diminish because of the burden (tribute) imposed by the king of princes.

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

For Ephraim has multiplied altars for sinning; yes, to him altars are intended for sinning.

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

I wrote for him the ten thousand things of My law, but they are counted as a strange thing.

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.

My sacrificial gifts they sacrifice; yes, they sacrifice flesh and eat it, but the Lord does not accept them. Now He will remember their guilt and iniquity and will punish their sins. They shall 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.

For Israel has forgotten his Maker and built palaces and idol temples, and Judah has multiplied fortified cities; but I will send a fire upon his cities and it shall devour his palaces and fortified buildings.