The Hebrew Prophets

So Ephraim has become like a silly, senseless dove— calling out to Egypt, then turning to Assyria.

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!”

But Israel has rejected good; an enemy will pursue him.

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.

For they sow the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind. There is no standing grain; what sprouts fails to yield flour. Even if it should produce, the foreigners would swallow it up.

Israel is swallowed up! Now they are among the nations like a worthless vessel.

For they have gone up to Assyria like a wild donkey on its own. Ephraim has hired lovers.

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 Ephraim multiplied the altars for sin, they became his altars for sinning.

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.

The threshing floor and winepress will not feed them, and the new wine will fail them.

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?