⁴ They made kings, but not through me.
    They set up princes, but I knew it not.
With their silver and gold they made idols
    for their own destruction.
⁵ I have^[a] spurned your calf, O Samaria.
    My anger burns against them.
How long will they be incapable of innocence?
⁶ For it is from Israel;
a craftsman made it;
    it is not God.
The calf of Samaria
    shall be broken to pieces.^[b]

⁷ For they sow the wind,
    and they shall reap the whirlwind.
The standing grain has no heads;
    it shall yield no flour;
if it were to yield,
    strangers 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 donkey wandering alone;
    Ephraim has hired lovers.
¹⁰ Though they hire allies among the nations,
    I will soon gather them up.
And the king and princes shall soon writhe
    because of the tribute.

¹¹ Because Ephraim has multiplied altars for sinning,
    they have become to him altars for sinning.
¹² Were I to write for him my laws by the ten thousands,
    they would be regarded as a strange thing.
¹³ As for my sacrificial offerings,
    they sacrifice meat and eat it,
    but the Lord does not accept 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;
    so I will send a fire upon his cities,
    and it shall devour her strongholds.