Hosea 8:4-7

New International Version

⁴They set up kings without my consent;
    they choose princes without my approval.^(A)
With their silver and gold
    they make idols^(B) for themselves
    to their own destruction.
⁵Samaria, throw out your calf-idol!^(C)
    My anger burns against them.
How long will they be incapable of purity?^(D)
⁶    They are from Israel!
This calf—a metalworker has made it;
    it is not God.^(E)
It will be broken in pieces,
    that calf^(F) of Samaria.^(G)

⁷“They sow the wind
    and reap the whirlwind.^(H)
The stalk has no head;
    it will produce no flour.^(I)
Were it to yield grain,
    foreigners would swallow it up.^(J)

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Hosea 8:11-13

New International Version

¹¹“Though Ephraim built many altars for sin offerings,
    these have become altars for sinning.^(A)
¹²I wrote for them the many things of my law,
    but they regarded them as something foreign.^(B)
¹³Though they offer sacrifices as gifts to me,
    and though they eat^(C) the meat,
    the Lord is not pleased with them.^(D)
Now he will remember^(E) their wickedness
    and punish their sins:^(F)
    They will return to Egypt.^(G)

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Matthew 9:32-38

New International Version

³²While they were going out, a man who was demon-possessed^(A) and could not talk^(B) was brought to Jesus. ³³And when the demon was driven out, the man who had been mute spoke. The crowd was amazed and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.”^(C)

³⁴But the Pharisees said, “It is by the prince of demons that he drives out demons.”^(D)

The Workers Are Few

³⁵Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.^(E) ³⁶When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them,^(F) because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.^(G) ³⁷Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest^(H) is plentiful but the workers are few.^(I) ³⁸Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”