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¹ Set the trumpet to your lips, for a vulture is over the house of the LORD, because they have broken my covenant, and transgressed my law.² To me they cry, My God, we Israel know thee.³ Israel has spurned the good; the enemy shall pursue him.⁴ They 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.⁵ I have spurned your calf, O Sama'ria. My anger burns against them. How long will it be till they are pure⁶ in Israel? A workman made it; it is not God. The calf of Sama'ria shall be broken to pieces.⁷ For 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.

⁸ Israel is swallowed up; already they are among the nations as a useless vessel.⁹ For they have gone up to Assyria, a wild ass wandering alone; E'phraim has hired lovers.¹⁰ Though 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.¹¹ Because E'phraim has multiplied altars for sinning, they have become to him altars for sinning.¹² Were I to write for him my laws by ten thousands, they would be regarded as a strange thing.¹³ They love sacrifice; they sacrifice flesh and eat it; but the LORD has no delight in them. Now he will remember their iniquity, and punish their sins; they shall return to Egypt.¹⁴ For 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.