1 Israel’s False Hopes Put the horn to your mouth! One like an eagle comes against the house of the Lord , because they transgress my covenant and rebel against my law.2 Israel cries out to me, “My God, we know you! ”3 Israel has rejected what is good; an enemy will pursue him.4 They have installed kings, but not through me. They have appointed leaders, but without my approval. They make their silver and gold into idols for themselves for their own destruction. Lit themselves that it might be cut off 5 Your calf-idol Lit calf is rejected, Samaria. My anger burns against them. How long will they be incapable of innocence?6 For this thing is from Israel — a craftsman made it, and it is not God. The calf of Samaria will be smashed to bits!7 Indeed, they sow the wind and reap the whirlwind. There is no standing grain; what sprouts fails to yield flour. Even if they did, foreigners would swallow it up.8 Israel is swallowed up! Now they are among the nations like discarded pottery.9 For they have gone up to Assyria like a wild donkey going off on its own. Ephraim has paid for love.10 Even though they hire lovers among the nations, I will now round them up, and they will begin to decrease in number under the burden of the king and leaders.11 When Ephraim multiplied his altars for sin, they became his altars for sinning.12 Though I were to write out for him ten thousand points of my instruction, they would be Or Though I wrote out . . . instruction, they are regarded as something strange.13 Though they offer sacrificial gifts Hb obscure and eat the flesh, the Lord does not accept them. Now he will remember their guilt and punish their sins; they will return to Egypt.14 Israel has forgotten his Maker and built palaces; Judah has also multiplied fortified cities. I will send fire on their cities, and it will consume their citadels.