4They 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.
5I have spurned your calf, O Samaria.
My anger burns against them.
How long will it be till they are pure 6in Israel?
A workman made it;
it is not God.
The calf of Samaria
shall be broken to pieces.
7For 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.
8Israel is swallowed up;
already they are among the nations
as a useless vessel.
9For they have gone up to Assyria,
a wild ass wandering alone;
Ephraim has hired lovers.
10Though 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.
11Because Ephraim has multiplied altars for sinning,
they have become to him altars for sinning.
12Were I to write for him my laws by ten thousands,
they would be regarded as a strange thing.
13They love sacrifice;
they sacrifice flesh and eat it;
but Yahweh has no delight in them.
Now he will remember their iniquity,
and punish their sins;
they shall return to Egypt.
14For 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.
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