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.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. (Revised Standard Version)