[1] Set the trumpet to your lips, for a vulture is over the house of the
LORD, because they have broken my covenant, and transgressed my law. [2] To
me they cry, My God, we Israel know thee. [3] Israel has spurned the good;
the enemy shall pursue him. [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 spurned your calf, O
Sama'ria. My anger burns against them. How long will it be till they are
pure [6] in Israel? A workman made it; it is not God. The calf of Sama'ria
shall be broken to pieces. [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 for a little while from anointing 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; 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.
