The Apostasy of Israel

1 “Setthe trumpet to your mouth!

Heshallcomelike an eagle against the house of theLord,

Because they have transgressed My covenant

And rebelled against My law.

2 Israel will cry to Me,

‘My God,we know You!’

3 Israel has rejected the good;

The enemy will pursue him.

4 “Theyset up kings, but not by Me;

They made princes, but I did not acknowledgethem.

From their silver and gold

They made idols for themselves—

That they might be cut off.

5 Your calf is rejected, O Samaria!

My anger is aroused against them—

How long until they attain to innocence?

6 For from Israeliseven this:

Aworkman made it, and itisnot God;

But the calf of Samaria shall be broken to pieces.

7 “Theysow the wind,

And reap the whirlwind.

The stalk has no bud;

It shall never produce meal.

If it should produce,

Aliens would swallow it up.

8 Israel is swallowed up;

Now they are among the Gentiles

Like a vessel in whichisno pleasure.

9 For they have gone up to Assyria,

Likea wild donkey alone by itself;

Ephraimhas hired lovers.

10 Yes, though they have hired among the nations,

NowI will gather them;

And they shall sorrow a little,

Because of the burden ofthe king of princes.

11 “Because Ephraim has made many altars for sin,

They have become for him altars for sinning.

12 I have written for himthe great things of My law,

Butthey were considered a strange thing.

13 Forthe sacrifices of My offeringsthey sacrifice flesh and eatit,

ButtheLorddoes not accept them.

Now He will remember their iniquity and punish their sins.

They shall return to Egypt.

14 “ForIsrael has forgottenhis Maker,

And has built temples;

Judah also has multipliedfortified cities;

ButI will send fire upon his cities,

And it shall devour his palaces.”