Hosea

¹ Vultures are circling over God's people Who have broken my covenant and defied my revelation.

² But they don't act like it.

³ and now the enemy is after them.

⁴ They set up princes but don't let me in on it. Instead, they make idols, using silver and gold, idols that will be their ruin.

⁵ I'm seething with anger against that rubbish! How long before they shape up?

⁶ A sculptor made that thing— it's not God. That Samaritan calf will be broken to bits.

⁷ they'll harvest tornadoes. Wheat with no head produces no flour. And even if it did, strangers would gulp it down.

⁸ Among the pagans they're a piece of junk.

⁹ Why, even wild donkeys stick to their own kind, but donkey-Ephraim goes out and pays to get lovers.

¹⁰ I'm going to gather them together and confront them. They're going to reap the consequences soon, feel what it's like to be oppressed by the big king.

¹¹ and then uses them for sinning. Can you believe it? Altars for sinning!

¹² and they pretend they can't read it.

¹³ and then they feast on the meat. God is not pleased! I'm fed up—I'll keep remembering their guilt. I'll punish their sins and send them back to Egypt.

¹⁴ and gotten busy making palaces. Judah has gone in for a lot of fortress cities. I'm sending fire on their cities to burn down their fortifications."