1Set the trumpet to your lips! One like a vulture is over the house of the Lord, because they have transgressed my covenant and rebelled against my law. (De 28:49; Ho 5:8; Ho 6:7)2To me they cry, “My God, we—Israel—know you.” (Mt 7:21)3Israel has spurned the good; the enemy shall pursue him.4They made kings, but not through me. They set up princes, but I knew it not. With their silver and gold they made idols for their own destruction. (1Ki 12:20; 2Ch 13:5; Ho 7:7)5I have[1] spurned your calf, O Samaria. My anger burns against them. How long will they be incapable of innocence? (1Ki 12:28; Jer 13:27; Ho 10:5)6For it is from Israel; a craftsman made it; it is not God. The calf of Samaria shall be broken to pieces.[2] (Ho 8:5; Mic 1:6)7For they sow the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind. The standing grain has no heads; it shall yield no flour; if it were to yield, strangers would devour it. (Ho 7:9; Ho 10:12)8Israel is swallowed up; already they are among the nations as a useless vessel. (2Ki 17:6; Jer 22:28)9For they have gone up to Assyria, a wild donkey wandering alone; Ephraim has hired lovers. (Jer 2:24; Ho 5:13)10Though they hire allies among the nations, I will soon gather them up. And the king and princes shall soon writhe because of the tribute. (Eze 26:7; Ho 4:7; Ho 4:10)11Because Ephraim has multiplied altars for sinning, they have become to him altars for sinning. (Ho 10:1; Ho 12:11)12Were I to write for him my laws by the ten thousands, they would be regarded as a strange thing. (De 4:6; De 4:8)13As for my sacrificial offerings, they sacrifice meat and eat it, but the Lord does not accept them. Now he will remember their iniquity and punish their sins; they shall return to Egypt. (De 28:68; Jer 7:21; Ho 9:3; Ho 9:9; Ho 11:5; Am 4:4; Am 8:7)14For Israel has forgotten his Maker and built palaces, and Judah has multiplied fortified cities; so I will send a fire upon his cities, and it shall devour her strongholds. (Isa 17:7; Ho 6:4; Am 2:5; Am 5:11)