Study Desk

Put the horn to your mouth!^(a) One like an eagle comes against the house of the Lord ,^(b) because they transgress My covenant^(c) and rebel against My law.^(d)

Israel cries out to Me,^(e) "My God, we know You!"

Israel has rejected what is good;^(f) an enemy will pursue him.

They have installed kings,^(g) but not through Me. They have appointed leaders, but without My approval. They make their silver and gold^(h) into idols for themselves for their own destruction.^[a]

Your calf-idol^[b](i) is rejected, Samaria.^(j) My anger burns against them. How long will they be incapable of innocence?^(k)

For this thing is from Israel— a craftsman made it,^(l) and it is not God. The calf of Samaria will be smashed to bits!

Indeed, they sow the wind^(m) and reap the whirlwind.⁽ⁿ⁾ There is no standing grain; what sprouts fails to yield flour.^(o) Even if they did, foreigners would swallow it up.

Israel is swallowed up!^(p) Now they are among the nations like discarded pottery.^(q)

For they have gone up to Assyria^(r) like a wild donkey going off on its own. Ephraim has paid for love.^(s)

Even though they hire lovers among the nations, I will now round them up, and they will begin to decrease in number^(t) under the burden of the king and leaders.^(u)

When Ephraim multiplied his altars for sin,^(v) they became his altars for sinning.

Though I were to write out for him ten thousand points of My instruction,^(w) they would be^[c] regarded as something strange.

Though they offer sacrificial gifts^[d](x) and eat the flesh,^(y) the Lord does not accept them. Now He will remember their guilt^(z) and punish their sins;^(aa) they will return to Egypt.^(ab)

Israel has forgotten his Maker^(ac) and built palaces;^(ad) Judah has also multiplied fortified cities. I will send fire on their cities,^(ae) and it will consume their citadels.