Hosea 8

Set the trumpet to thy mouth. He shall come as an eagle against the house of the LORD, because they have transgressed my covenant, and trespassed against my law.

Sound the alarm. Like a fierce eagle, he will attack God's house, for they have broken my agreement and violated my rules.

Israel shall cry unto me, My God, we know thee.

Israel will call out to me in tears, saying, "Our God, we recognize you."

Israel hath cast off the thing that is good: the enemy shall pursue him.

Israel has rejected what is good, and an enemy will hunt them down.

They have set up kings, but not by me: they have made princes, and I knew it not: of their silver and their gold have they made them idols, that they may be cut off.

They've crowned kings without me and made princes without my approval. They've crafted idols from their silver and gold, and they will be cut off for it.

Thy calf, O Samaria, hath cast thee off; mine anger is kindled against them: how long will it be ere they attain to innocency?

Samaria, your idol has abandoned you. I'm angry with them. When will they finally become innocent?

For from Israel was it also: the workman made it; therefore it is not God: but the calf of Samaria shall be broken in pieces.

Even Israel is guilty of this: humans crafted it, so it's not divine. The golden calf of Samaria will be shattered.

For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind: it hath no stalk; the bud shall yield no meal: if so be it yield, the strangers shall swallow it up.

They planted seeds of chaos, now they'll harvest a storm. Their efforts will bear no fruit; if anything grows, outsiders will consume it.

Israel is swallowed up: now shall they be among the Gentiles as a vessel wherein is no pleasure.

Israel has been consumed, and now, they'll be like an unappreciated object among the nations.

For they are gone up to Assyria, a wild ass alone by himself: Ephraim hath hired lovers.

They've journeyed to Assyria, as solitary as a wild donkey: Ephraim has paid for affection.

Yea, though they have hired among the nations, now will I gather them, and they shall sorrow a little for the burden of the king of princes.

Even though they've hired allies among the nations, I will now round them up, and they will soon begin to suffer under the heavy demands of the king of princes.

Because Ephraim hath made many altars to sin, altars shall be unto him to sin.

Ephraim's numerous altars have led him astray, and now these very altars will be his downfall.

I have written to him the great things of my law, but they were counted as a strange thing.

I shared with him the profound truths of my teachings, yet he dismissed them as oddities.

They sacrifice flesh for the sacrifices of mine offerings, and eat it; but the LORD accepteth them not; now will he remember their iniquity, and visit their sins: they shall return to Egypt.

They offer their sacrifices and feast upon them, but God does not accept these. Now He will remember their wrongdoings and punish their sins: they will go back to Egypt.

For Israel hath forgotten his Maker, and buildeth temples; and Judah hath multiplied fenced cities: but I will send a fire upon his cities, and it shall devour the palaces thereof.

Israel has lost touch with its Creator, busy building temples. Judah, too, has been busy fortifying cities. But, I will ignite a fire that will consume their grand structures.