Hosea 8:5-14

Samaria, I reject your calf-idol! My anger blazes against your people. How long before they reclaim their purity? Surely, this calf-idol originated with Israel. A craftsman made it; it’s not even a god at all. Yes, this calf of Samaria will be shattered to pieces.” “Since they sow the wind, they will reap the whirlwind. They will reap headless stalks of grain that produce no flour, and even if they did produce grain, foreigners would swallow it. Israel has already been swallowed up and is now powerless among the nations. Israel, you are like a useless piece of broken pottery. For indeed, you have sought assistance from Assyria, like a wild donkey wandering alone. Ephraim has sold herself to other lovers. Although they have hired allies from among the nations, I will round them up for judgment. They are already wasting away under the oppression of the king of princes.” “The more altars Ephraim builds, the more places the people have to sin— altars for sinning and not for sin offerings. Although many times I have written many rules for my people, Ephraim regards them as something strange and foreign. They love to offer sacrifices to me so that they can eat the meat. But I, YAHWEH, take no pleasure in them. I will not forget their guilt, and I will punish them for their sins. They will have to go back to Egypt. Israel has built palaces but has forgotten his Maker. Judah keeps on building fortified towns, but I will rain fire down on his cities to devour the strongholds with flames.”