⁷ “They sow the wind
    and reap the whirlwind.^(A)
The stalk has no head;
    it will produce no flour.^(B)
Were it to yield grain,
    foreigners would swallow it up.^(C)
8 Israel is swallowed up;^(D)
    now she is among the nations
    like something no one wants.^(E)
9 For they have gone up to Assyria^(F)
    like a wild donkey^(G) wandering alone.
    Ephraim has sold herself to lovers.^(H)
10 Although they have sold themselves among the nations,
    I will now gather them together.^(I)
They will begin to waste away^(J)
    under the oppression of the mighty king.

¹¹ “Though Ephraim built many altars for sin offerings,
    these have become altars for sinning.^(K)
12 I wrote for them the many things of my law,
    but they regarded them as something foreign.^(L)
13 Though they offer sacrifices as gifts to me,
    and though they eat^(M) the meat,
    the Lord is not pleased with them.^(N)
Now he will remember^(O) their wickedness
    and punish their sins:^(P)
    They will return to Egypt.^(Q)
14 Israel has forgotten^(R) their Maker^(S)
    and built palaces;
    Judah has fortified many towns.
But I will send fire on their cities
    that will consume their fortresses.”^(T)