CHAPTER 8

1 To thy mouth the trumpet! As an eagle, against the house of Jehovah; For they have transgressed my covenant, And against my law have they acted perfidiously.

2 To me will Israel exclaim, "My God, we have known thee,"

3 Israel has cast good far away; -- The enemy will closely pursue him:

4 They have caused to reign, but not by me; Dominion have they set up, but I knew not; Of their silver and their gold they have made for themselves idols; They shall therefore be cut off.

5 Cast thee far away has thy calf, O Samaria! -- Kindled has my fury against them: How long will they not bear cleanness?

6 For even from Israel it is; The artificer has made it, and it is no god; For in fragments shall be the calf of Samaria.

7 Surely the wind they sow, and the tempest they shall reap; There is no stalks -- the grain will produce no flour; If indeed it will produce, strangers will devour it.

8 Devoured is Israel, -- now shall he be among the Gentiles, Like a vessel in which there is no delight:

9 For they went up to Assyria, like a solitary wild ass; -- Ephraim hired lovers:

10 Though they have hired among the nations, I will now gather them; And they shall grieve a little under the burden of the king and princes.

11 Because Ephraim has multiplied altars to sin, Altars for sinning shall be to him.

12 I have written for him the precious things of my law; As something strange have they been accounted.

13 For sacrifices of burnt-offerings they offer flesh, and eat; Jehovah will not regard it as acceptable: He will now remember their iniquity, He will visit their wickedness; -- To Egypt shall they return.

14 For Israel has his Maker forgotten, and built altars: Judah also has multiplied fortified cities; But I will send fire on his cities, And it shall devour his palaces.