Hosea 8
The Lord warns Israel that their transgressions and idolatry will lead to their downfall, and they will be overtaken by their enemies. Israel's leaders have not been appointed by God, and their wealth has been used to create idols. The people will reap the whirlwind of their actions, and their land will be desolate and unfruitful. The Lord will punish Israel for their sins, and they will be forced to return to Egypt, while Judah will also face destruction by fire.
Let there be a trumpet in your throat, like an eagle over the house of the Lord, on behalf of those who have transgressed my covenant and violated my lawThey will call on me: "O my God, we, Israel, know you.Israel has thrown away goodness; the enemy will overtake himThey have reigned, but not by me. Leaders have emerged, and I did not recognize them. Their silver and their gold, they have made into idols for themselves, so that they might cross overYour calf, Samaria, has been rejected. My fury has been enraged against them. How long will they be incapable of being cleansedFor it is itself also from Israel: a workman made it, and it is not God. For the calf of Samaria will be used for the webs of spidersFor they will sow wind and reap a whirlwind. It does not have a firm stalk; the bud will yield no grain. But if it does yield, strangers will eat itIsrael has been devoured. Now, among the nations, it has become like an unclean vesselFor they have gone up to Assur, a wild ass alone by himself. Ephraim has given presents to his loversBut even when they will have brought the nations together for the sake of money, now I will assemble them. And they will rest for a little while from the burden of the king and the leadersFor Ephraim multiplied altars to sin, and sanctuaries have become an offense for himI will write to him my intricate laws, which have been treated like strangersThey will offer victims, they will immolate flesh and will eat, and the Lord will not accept them. For now he will remember their iniquity, and he will repay their sins: they will be turned back to EgyptAnd Israel has forgotten his Maker and has built shrines. And Judah has increased its fortified cities. And I will send fire upon his cities, and it will devour its structures
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