1 “ 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.

“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 T hey cry out to Me, ‘My God, we of Israel know You!’

They cry to me, ‘My God, we Israel acknowledge you!’

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

Israel has cast off that which is good. The enemy will pursue him.

4 T hey 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.

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 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

Let Samaria throw out his calf idol! My anger burns against them! How long will it be until they are capable of purity?

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

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 T hey 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.

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

Israel is swallowed up. Now they are among the nations like a worthless thing.

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

For they have gone up to Assyria, like a wild donkey wandering alone. Ephraim has hired lovers for himself.

10 E ven 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.

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 made many altars for sin gifts, they have become altars for sinning.

Because Ephraim has multiplied altars for sinning, they became for him altars for sinning.

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

I wrote for him the many things of my law; but they were regarded as a strange thing.

13 T hey 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.

As for the sacrifices of my offerings, they sacrifice flesh 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 I srael 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.”

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.”