Hosea

Israel to reap the whirlwind

¹‘Put the trumpet to your lips!An eagle is over the house of the Lordbecause the people have broken my covenantand rebelled against my law. ²Israel cries out to me,“Our God, we acknowledge you!” ³But Israel has rejected what is good;an enemy will pursue him. ⁴They set up kings without my consent;they choose princes without my approval.With their silver and goldthey make idols for themselvesto their own destruction. ⁵Throw out your calf-idol, Samaria!My anger burns against them.How long will they be incapable of purity? ⁶     They are from Israel!This calf – a metalworker has made it;it is not God.It will be broken in pieces,that calf of Samaria. ⁷‘They sow the windand reap the whirlwind.The stalk has no head;it will produce no flour.Were it to yield grain,foreigners would swallow it up. ⁸Israel is swallowed up;now she is among the nationslike something no one wants. ⁹For they have gone up to Assyrialike a wild donkey wandering alone.Ephraim has sold herself to lovers. ¹⁰Although they have sold themselves among the nations,I will now gather them together.They will begin to waste awayunder the oppression of the mighty king. ¹¹‘Though Ephraim built many altars for sin offerings,these have become altars for sinning. ¹²I wrote for them the many things of my law,but they regarded them as something foreign. ¹³Though they offer sacrifices as gifts to me,and though they eat the meat,the Lord is not pleased with them.Now he will remember their wickednessand punish their sins:they will return to Egypt. ¹⁴Israel has forgotten his Makerand built palaces;Judah has fortified many towns.But I will send fire on their citiesthat will consume their fortresses.’