1. Sound a warning!Israel, you broke our agreementand ignored my teaching.Now an eagle is swooping downto attack my land.
2. Israel, you say, “We claim you,the Lord, as our God.”
3. But your enemieswill chase you for rejectingour good agreement.
4. You chose kings and leaderswithout consulting me;you made silver and gold idolsthat led to your downfall.
5. City of Samaria, I'm angrybecause of your idolin the shape of a calf.When will you everbe innocent again?
6. Someone from Israel builtthat idol for you,but only I am God.And so it will be smashedto pieces.
7. If you scatter windinstead of wheat,you will harvest a whirlwindand have no wheat.Even if you harvest grain,enemies will steal it all.
8. Israel, you are ruined,and now the nationsconsider you worthless.
9. You are like a wild donkeythat goes its own way.You've run off to Assyriaand hired them as allies.
10. You can bargain with nations,but I'll catch you anyway.Soon you will suffer abuseby kings and rulers.
11. Israel, you have builtmany altars where you offersacrifices for sin.But these altars have becomeplaces for sin.
12. My instructions for sacrificeswere written in detail,but you ignored them.