Hosea 8

Revised Standard Version

⁴ They made kings, but not through me.
    They set up princes, but without my knowledge.
With their silver and gold they made idols
    for their own destruction.
⁵ I have^[b] spurned your calf, O Samar′ia.
    My anger burns against them.
How long will it be
    till they are pure ⁶ in Israel?^[c]

A workman made it;
    it is not God.
The calf of Samar′ia
    shall be broken to pieces.^[d]

⁷ 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,
    aliens would devour it.
⁸ Israel is swallowed up;
    already they are among the nations
    as a useless vessel.
⁹ For they have gone up to Assyria,
    a wild ass wandering alone;
    E′phraim has hired lovers.
¹⁰ Though they hire allies among the nations,
    I will soon gather them up.
And they shall cease^[e] for a little while
    from anointing^[f] king and princes.

¹¹ Because E′phraim has multiplied altars for sinning,
    they have become to him altars for sinning.
¹² Were I to write for him my laws by ten thousands,
    they would be regarded as a strange thing.
¹³ They love sacrifice;^[g]
    they sacrifice flesh and eat it;
    but the Lord has no delight in them.
Now he will remember their iniquity,
    and punish their sins;
    they shall return to Egypt.
¹⁴ For Israel has forgotten his Maker,
    and built palaces;
and Judah has multiplied fortified cities;
    but I will send a fire upon his cities,
    and it shall devour his strongholds.