5. “O Samaria, I reject this calf—this idol you have made.My fury burns against you.How long will you be incapable of innocence?
6. This calf you worship, O Israel,was crafted by your own hands!It is not God!Therefore, it must be smashed to bits.
7. “They have planted the windand will harvest the whirlwind.The stalks of grain witherand produce nothing to eat.And even if there is any grain,foreigners will eat it.
8. The people of Israel have been swallowed up;they lie among the nations like an old discarded pot.
9. Like a wild donkey looking for a mate,they have gone up to Assyria.The people of Israel have sold themselves—sold themselves to many lovers.
10. But though they have sold themselves to many allies,I will now gather them together for judgment.Then they will writheunder the burden of the great king.
11. “Israel has built many altars to take away sin,but these very altars became places for sinning!
12. Even though I gave them all my laws,they act as if those laws don’t apply to them.