Israel will Reap the Whirlwind

1Set the trumpet to thy mouth. [He cometh] as an eagle against the house of Jehovah, because they have transgressed my covenant, and rebelled against my law.

2They shall cry unto me, My God, we know thee; [we], Israel.

3Israel hath cast off good: the enemy shall pursue him.

4They have set up kings, but not by me; they have made princes, and I knew it not; of their silver and their gold have they made them idols, that they may be cut off.

5Thy calf, O Samaria, hath cast [thee] off; mine anger is kindled against them: how long will they be incapable of purity?

6For from Israel is this also: -- a workman made it, and it is no God: for the calf of Samaria shall be [broken in] pieces.

7For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind: it hath no stalk; should it sprout, it would yield no meal; if so be it yield, strangers shall swallow it up.

8Israel is swallowed up: now are they become among the nations as a vessel wherein is no pleasure.

9For they are gone up [to] Assyria [as] a wild ass alone by himself: Ephraim hath hired lovers.

10Although they hire among the nations, now will I gather them, and they shall begin to be straitened under the burden of the king of princes.

11Because Ephraim hath multiplied altars to sin, altars shall be unto him to sin.

12I have prescribed unto him the manifold things of my law: they are counted [as] a strange thing.

13They sacrifice flesh [for] the sacrifices of mine offerings, and eat it; Jehovah hath no delight in them. Now will he remember their iniquity, and visit their sins: they shall return to Egypt.

14For Israel hath forgotten his Maker, and buildeth temples; and Judah hath multiplied fenced cities: but I will send a fire upon his cities, and it shall devour the palaces thereof.