8 Or “has hired herself out to lovers”; cf. “has sold herself to lovers.”
9 Or “they have hired themselves out to lovers”; cf. “they hire allies among the nations.”
10 The Piel stem of קָבַץ (qavats) is often used in a positive sense, meaning “to regather” a dispersed people ( קבץ 3.a; 868 קָבַץ 1.α). However, in Hosea 8:10 it is used in a negative sense, meaning “to assemble (people) for judgment” (e.g., Ezek 20:34; Hos 9:6; 3.e.i). Cf. “I will hold them fast” (in judgment, see the parallel in 9:6).
11 The vav consecutive + preterite וַיָּחֵלּוּ (vayyakhellu, Hiphil preterite 3rd person common plural from חָלַל, khalal, “to begin”]) denotes temporal subordination to the preceding clause: “then …” (so ); cf. , “Soon.”
12 Heb “a king of princes” (cf. , ); “the emperor of Assyria.”

In other versions

For they have gone up to Assyria,

a wild donkey wandering alone;

Ephraim has hired lovers.

Though they hire allies among the nations,

I will soon gather them up.

And the king and princes shall soon writhe

because of the tribute.

For they have gone up to Assyria

like a wild donkey wandering alone.

Ephraim has sold herself to lovers.

Although they have sold themselves among the nations,

I will now gather them together.

They will begin to waste away

under the oppression of the mighty king.

For they have gone up to Assyria

like a wild donkey going off on its own.

Ephraim has paid for love.

Even though they hire lovers among the nations,

I will now round them up,

and they will begin to decrease in number

under the burden of the king and leaders.

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.

But though they have sold themselves to many allies,

I will now gather them together for judgment.

Then they will writhe

under the burden of the great king.

For they have gone up to Assyria,

a wild donkey alone to itself;

Ephraim has sold itself for lovers.

Even though they have sold themselves to the nations,

now I will gather them.

They will soon writhe

from the burden of kings and princes.

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.

Public Domain