God

But they fail to consider in their hearts that I remember all their evil. Now their deeds are all around them; they are before My face.

All of them are hot as an oven, and they devour their rulers. All their kings fall; not one of them calls upon Me.

Israel’s arrogance testifies against them, yet they do not return to the LORD their God; despite all this, they do not seek Him.

As they go, I will spread My net over them; I will bring them down like birds of the air. I will chastise them when I hear them flocking together.

Woe to them, for they have strayed from Me! Destruction to them, for they have rebelled against Me! Though I would redeem them, they speak lies against Me.

They do not cry out to Me from their hearts when they wail upon their beds. They slash themselves for grain and new wine, but turn away from Me.

Although I trained and strengthened their arms, they plot evil against Me.

They turn, but not to the Most High; they are like a faulty bow. Their leaders will fall by the sword for the cursing of their tongue; for this they will be ridiculed in the land of Egypt.

Put the ram’s horn to your lips! An eagle looms over the house of the LORD, because the people have transgressed My covenant and rebelled against My law.

Israel cries out to Me, “O our God, we know You!”

They set up kings, but not by Me. They make princes, but without My approval. With their silver and gold they make themselves idols, to their own destruction.

He has rejected your calf, O Samaria. My anger burns against them. How long will they be incapable of innocence?

For this thing is from Israel— a craftsman made it, and it is not God. It will be broken to pieces, that calf of Samaria.

Though they hire allies among the nations, I will now round them up, and they will begin to diminish under the oppression of the king of princes.

Though I wrote for them the great things of My law, they regarded them as something strange.

Though they offer sacrifices as gifts to Me, and though they eat the meat, the LORD does not accept them. Now He will remember their iniquity and punish their sins: They will return to Egypt.

Israel has forgotten his Maker and built palaces; Judah has multiplied its fortified cities. But I will send fire upon their cities, and it will consume their citadels.

Do not rejoice, O Israel, with exultation like the nations, for you have played the harlot against your God; you have made love for hire on every threshing floor.

They will not remain in the land of the LORD; Ephraim will return to Egypt and eat unclean food in Assyria.

They will not pour out wine offerings to the LORD, and their sacrifices will not please Him, but will be to them like the bread of mourners; all who eat will be defiled. For their bread will be for themselves; it will not enter the house of the LORD.

What will you do on the appointed day, on the day of the LORD’s feast?

The prophet is Ephraim’s watchman, along with my God, yet the snare of the fowler lies on all his paths. Hostility is in the house of his God!

They have deeply corrupted themselves as in the days of Gibeah; He will remember their guilt; He will punish their sins.

I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness. I saw your fathers as the firstfruits of the fig tree in its first season. But they went to Baal-peor, and consecrated themselves to Shame; so they became as detestable as the thing they loved.

Even if they raise their children, I will bereave them of each one. Yes, woe be to them when I turn away from them!