¹ "Put the trumpet to your lips! Something like an eagle is over Yahweh's house, because they have broken my covenant, and rebelled against my law.

² They cry to me, 'My God, we Israel acknowledge you!'

³ Israel has cast off that which is good. The enemy will pursue him.

⁴ They have set up kings, but not by me. They have made princes, and I didn't approve. Of their silver and their gold they have made themselves idols, that they may be cut off.

⁵ Let Samaria throw out his calf idol! My anger burns against them! How long will it be until they are capable of purity?

⁶ For this is even from Israel! The workman made it, and it is no God; indeed, the calf of Samaria shall be broken in pieces.

⁷ For they sow the wind, and they will reap the whirlwind. He has no standing grain. The stalk will yield no head. If it does yield, strangers will swallow it up.

⁸ Israel is swallowed up. Now they are among the nations like a worthless thing.

⁹ For they have gone up to Assyria, like a wild donkey wandering alone. Ephraim has hired lovers for himself.

¹⁰ But although they sold themselves among the nations, I will now gather them; and they begin to waste away because of the oppression of the king of mighty ones.

¹¹ Because Ephraim has multiplied altars for sinning, they became for him altars for sinning.

¹² I wrote for him the many things of my law; but they were regarded as a strange thing.

¹³ As for the sacrifices of my offerings, they sacrifice flesh and eat it; But Yahweh doesn't accept them. Now he will remember their iniquity, and punish their sins. They will 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 on his cities, and it will devour its fortresses."

¹ Israel is a luxuriant vine that puts forth his fruit. According to the abundance of his fruit he has multiplied his altars. As their land has prospered, they have adorned their sacred stones.

² Their heart is divided. Now they will be found guilty. He will demolish their altars. He will destroy their sacred stones.

³ Surely now they will say, "We have no king; for we don't fear Yahweh; and the king, what can he do for us?"

⁴ They make promises, swearing falsely in making covenants. Therefore judgment springs up like poisonous weeds in the furrows of the field.

⁵ The inhabitants of Samaria will be in terror for the calves of Beth Aven; for its people will mourn over it, Along with its priests who rejoiced over it, for its glory, because it has departed from it.

⁶ It also will be carried to Assyria for a present to a great king. Ephraim will receive shame, and Israel will be ashamed of his own counsel.

⁷ Samaria and her king float away, like a twig on the water.

⁸ The high places also of Aven, the sin of Israel, will be destroyed. The thorn and the thistle will come up on their altars. They will tell the mountains, "Cover us!" and the hills, "Fall on us!"

⁹ "Israel, you have sinned from the days of Gibeah. There they remained. The battle against the children of iniquity doesn't overtake them in Gibeah.

¹⁰ When it is my desire, I will chastise them; and the nations will be gathered against them, when they are bound to their two transgressions.

¹¹ Ephraim is a trained heifer that loves to thresh; so I will put a yoke on her beautiful neck. I will set a rider on Ephraim. Judah will plow. Jacob will break his clods.

¹² Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap according to kindness. Break up your fallow ground; for it is time to seek Yahweh, until he comes and rains righteousness on you.

¹³ You have plowed wickedness. You have reaped iniquity. You have eaten the fruit of lies, for you trusted in your way, in the multitude of your mighty men.

¹⁴ Therefore a battle roar will arise among your people, and all your fortresses will be destroyed, as Shalman destroyed Beth Arbel in the day of battle. The mother was dashed in pieces with her children.

¹⁵ So Bethel will do to you because of your great wickedness. At daybreak the king of Israel will be destroyed.