Hosea 8 - Easy To Read Version

¹ “Put the trumpet to your lips \{and give the warning\}. Be like an eagle over the Lord’s house. {\cf2\super [76]} The Israelites have broken my Agreement. They have not obeyed my law.

² They yell to me, ‘My God, we in Israel know you!’

³ But Israel refused the good things. So the enemy chases him.

^4-6 The Israelites chose their kings, but they didn’t come to me for advice. The Israelites chose leaders. But they didn’t choose men that I knew. The Israelites used their silver and gold to make idols {\cf2\super [77]} for themselves. So they will be destroyed.

⁷ The Israelites \{did a foolish thing\}—it was like trying to plant the wind. But \{they will get only troubles\}—they will harvest a whirlwind. The grain in the fields will grow. It will give no food. Even if it grew something, strangers would eat it.

⁸ Israel was destroyed.\par \{Its people are scattered among the\} nations\par like some dish that was thrown away\par because no one wanted it.\par

⁹ Ephraim {\cf2\super [79]} went to his ‘lovers.’\par Like a wild donkey,\par he wandered off to Assyria.\par

¹⁰ Israel went to his ‘lovers’ among the nations.\par But I will gather the Israelites together.\par But they must suffer a little from the burden\par of that mighty king.\par

¹¹ Ephraim {\cf2\super [80]} built more and more altars, {\cf2\super [81]} \par and that was a sin.\par They have been altars of sin for Ephraim.\par

¹² Even if I wrote 10,000 laws for Ephraim,\par he would treat them like they were\par for some stranger.\par

¹³ The Israelites love sacrifices. {\cf2\super [82]} \par They offer the meat and eat it.\par The Lord does not accept their sacrifices.\par He remembers their sins.\par And he will punish them.\par They will be carried as prisoners to Egypt.\par

¹⁴ Israel built kings’ houses.\par But it forgot its Maker!\par Now Judah builds fortresses. {\cf2\super [83]} \par But I will send a fire on Judah’s cities.\par And the fire will destroy its fortresses!”\par