Read the Bible

¹ Sound a warning!
Israel, you broke our agreement
    and ignored my teaching.
Now an eagle is swooping down
    to attack my land.
² Israel, you say, "We claim you,
    the Lord, as our God."
³ But your enemies
will chase you
for rejecting
    our good agreement.^[a]

⁴ You chose kings and leaders
    without consulting me;
you made silver and gold idols
    that led to your downfall.
⁵ City of Samaria, I'm angry
because of your idol
    in the shape of a calf.
When will you ever
    be innocent again?
⁶ Someone from Israel built
that idol for you,
    but only I am God.
And so it will be smashed
    to pieces.^[b]

⁷ If you scatter wind
    instead of wheat,
you will harvest a whirlwind
    and have no wheat.
Even if you harvest grain,
    enemies will steal it all.

⁸ Israel, you are ruined,
and now the nations
    consider you worthless.
⁹ You are like a wild donkey
    that goes its own way.
You've run off to Assyria
    and hired them as allies.
¹⁰ You can bargain with nations,
    but I'll catch you anyway.
Soon you will suffer abuse
    by kings and rulers.

¹¹ Israel, you have built
many altars
where you offer
    sacrifices for sin.
But these altars have become
    places for sin.
¹² My instructions for sacrifices
were written in detail,
    but you ignored them.
¹³ You sacrifice your best animals
    and eat the sacrificial meals,^[c]
but I, the Lord,
    refuse your offerings.
I will remember your sins
    and punish you.
Then you will return to Egypt.^[d]

¹⁴ Israel, I created you,
    but you forgot me.
You and Judah built palaces
    and many strong cities.^[e]
Now I will send fire to destroy
    your towns and fortresses.