NET Bible
"Israel’s Hired Lovers They have gone up to Assyria, like a wild donkey that wanders off. Ephraim has hired prostitutes as lovers."
— Hosea 8:9, NET Bible
“For they are gone up to Assyria, a wild ass alone by himself: Ephraim hath hired lovers.”
“For they are gone up to Assyria, like a wild ass alone by himself: Ephraim hath hired lovers. ”
“For they have gone up to Assyria, like a wild donkey wandering alone. Ephraim has hired lovers for himself.”
“For they are gone up to Assyria, a wild ass alone by himself: Ephraim hath given gifts to his lovers.”
“For they have gone up to Assyria like an ass going by himself; Ephraim has given money to get lovers.”
“For they are gone up to Assyria, a wild ass alone by himself: Ephraim hath hired lovers.”
That idol was made by a workman– it is not God! The calf idol of Samaria will be broken to bits.
The Fertility Cultists Will Become Infertile They sow the wind, and so they will reap the whirlwind! The stalk does not have any standing grain; it will not produce any flour. Even if it were to yield grain, foreigners would swallow it all up.
Israel will be swallowed up among the nations; they will be like a worthless piece of pottery.
Israel’s Hired Lovers They have gone up to Assyria, like a wild donkey that wanders off. Ephraim has hired prostitutes as lovers.
Even though they have hired lovers among the nations, I will soon gather them together for judgment. Then they will begin to waste away under the oppression of a mighty king.
Sacrifices Ineffective without Moral Obedience Although Ephraim has built many altars for sin offerings, these have become altars for sinning!
I spelled out my law for him in great detail, but they regard it as something totally unknown to them!