Hosea 8

Chapter 8

Israel Harvests the Whirlwind

1 “Sound the alarm!
The enemy descends like an eagle on the people of the LORD,
for they have broken my covenant
and revolted against my law.2 Now Israel pleads with me,
‘Help us, for you are our God!’3 But it is too late.
The people of Israel have rejected what is good,
and now their enemies will chase after them.4 The people have appointed kings without my consent,
and princes without my knowledge.
By making idols for themselves from their silver and gold,
they have brought about their own destruction.5 “O Samaria, I reject this calf—
this idol you have made.
My fury burns against you.
How long will you be incapable of innocence?6 This calf you worship, O Israel,
was crafted by your own hands!
It is not God!
Therefore, it must be smashed to bits.7 “They have planted the wind
and will harvest the whirlwind.
The stalks of grain wither
and produce nothing to eat.
And even if there is any grain,
foreigners will eat it.8 The people of Israel have been swallowed up;
they lie among the nations like an old discarded pot.9 Like a wild donkey looking for a mate,
they have gone up to Assyria.
The people of Israelt have sold themselves—
sold themselves to many lovers.10 But though they have sold themselves to many allies,
I will now gather them together for judgment.
Then they will writhe
under the burden of the great king.11 “Israel has built many altars to take away sin,
but these very altars became places for sinning!12 Even though I gave them all my laws,
they act as if those laws don’t apply to them.13 The people of Israel love their rituals of sacrifice,
but to me their sacrifices are all meaningless.
I will hold my people accountable for their sins,
and I will punish them.
They will return to Egypt.14 Israel has forgotten its Maker and built great palaces,
and Judah has fortified its cities.
Therefore, I will send down fire on their cities
and will burn up their fortresses.”

Hosea 8

Israel to Reap the Whirlwind

1 “Put the trumpet to your lips!
An eagle is over the house of the Lord
because the people have broken my covenant
and rebelled against my law.

2 Israel cries out to me,
‘O our God, we acknowledge you!’

3 But Israel has rejected what is good;
an enemy will pursue him.

4 They set up kings without my consent;
they choose princes without my approval.
With their silver and gold
they make idols for themselves
to their own destruction.

5 Throw out your calf-idol, O Samaria!
My anger burns against them.
How long will they be incapable of purity?

6 They are from Israel!
This calf—a craftsman has made it;
it is not God.
It will be broken in pieces,
that calf of Samaria.

7 “They sow the wind
and reap the whirlwind.
The stalk has no head;
it will produce no flour.
Were it to yield grain,
foreigners would swallow it up.

8 Israel is swallowed up;
now she is among the nations
like a worthless thing.

9 For they have gone up to Assyria
like a wild donkey wandering alone.
Ephraim has sold herself to lovers.

10 Although they have sold themselves among the nations,
I will now gather them together.
They will begin to waste away
under the oppression of the mighty king.

11 “Though Ephraim built many altars for sin offerings,
these have become altars for sinning.

12 I wrote for them the many things of my law,
but they regarded them as something alien.

13 They offer sacrifices given to me
and they eat the meat,
but the Lord is not pleased with them.
Now he will remember their wickedness
and punish their sins:
They will return to Egypt.

14 Israel has forgotten his Maker
and built palaces;
Judah has fortified many towns.
But I will send fire upon their cities
that will consume their fortresses.”