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8:1 Set the trumpet to your lips, for a vulture is over the house of the LORD, because they have broken my covenant, and transgressed my law. 8:2 To me they cry, My God, we Israel know thee. 8:3 Israel has spurned the good;the enemy shall pursue him. 8:4 They made kings, but not through me. They set up princes, but without my knowledge. With their silver and gold they made idols for their own destruction. 8:5 I have spurned your calf, O Sama'ria. My anger burns against them. How long will it be till they are pure 8:6 in Israel? A workman made it;it is not God. The calf of Sama'ria shall be broken to pieces. 8:7 For they sow the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind. The standing grain has no heads, it shall yield no meal;if it were to yield, aliens would devour it. 8:8 Israel is swallowed up;already they are among the nations as a useless vessel. 8:9 For they have gone up to Assyria, a wild ass wandering alone;E'phraim has hired lovers. 8:10 Though they hire allies among the nations, I will soon gather them up. And they shall cease for a little while from anointing king and princes. 8:11 Because E'phraim has multiplied altars for sinning, they have become to him altars for sinning. 8:12 Were I to write for him my laws by ten thousands, they would be regarded as a strange thing. 8:13 They love sacrifice;they sacrifice flesh and eat it;but the LORDhas no delight in them. Now he will remember their iniquity, and punish their sins;they shall return to Egypt. 8:14 For Israel has forgotten his Maker, and built palaces;and Judah has multiplied fortified cities;but I will send a fire upon his cities, and it shall devour his strongholds.