Bible in Basic English
For they have gone up to Assyria like an ass going by himself; Ephraim has given money to get lovers.
But though they give money to the nations for help, still I will send them in all directions; and in a short time they will be without a king and rulers.
Because Ephraim has been increasing altars for sin, altars have become a cause of sin to him.
Though I put my law in writing for him in ten thousand rules, they are to him as a strange thing.
He gives the offerings of his lovers, and takes the flesh for food; but the Lord has no pleasure in them; now he will keep in mind their evil-doing and give them the punishment of their sins; they will go back to Egypt.
For Israel has no memory of his Maker, and has put up the houses of kings; and Judah has made great the number of his walled towns. But I will send a fire on his towns and put an end to his great houses.
— Hosea 8:9-1964, Bible in Basic English
“For they are gone up to Assyria, a wild ass alone by himself: Ephraim hath hired lovers. Yea, though they have hired among the nations, now will I gather them, and they shall sorrow a little for the burden of the king of princes. Because Ephraim hath made many altars to sin, altars shall be unto him to sin. I have written to him the great things of my law, but they were counted as a strange thing. They sacrifice flesh for the sacrifices of mine offerings, and eat it; but the Lord accepteth them not; now will he remember their iniquity, and visit their sins: they shall return to Egypt. For Israel hath forgotten his Maker, and buildeth temples; and Judah hath multiplied fenced cities: but I will send a fire upon his cities, and it shall devour the palaces thereof. ”
The workman made it, it is no god; the ox of Samaria will be broken into bits.
For they have been planting the wind, and their fruit will be the storm; his grain has no stem, it will give no meal, and if it does, a strange nation will take it.
Israel has come to destruction; now they are among the nations like a cup in which there is no pleasure.
For they have gone up to Assyria like an ass going by himself; Ephraim has given money to get lovers.
But though they give money to the nations for help, still I will send them in all directions; and in a short time they will be without a king and rulers.
Because Ephraim has been increasing altars for sin, altars have become a cause of sin to him.
Though I put my law in writing for him in ten thousand rules, they are to him as a strange thing.
He gives the offerings of his lovers, and takes the flesh for food; but the Lord has no pleasure in them; now he will keep in mind their evil-doing and give them the punishment of their sins; they will go back to Egypt.
For Israel has no memory of his Maker, and has put up the houses of kings; and Judah has made great the number of his walled towns. But I will send a fire on his towns and put an end to his great houses.