1Israel is a luxuriant vine, that putteth forth his fruit: according to the abundance of his fruit he hath multiplied his altars; according to the 1goodness of their land they have made goodly 2pillars. 23Their heart is 4divided; now shall they be found guilty: he will smite their altars, he will destroy their 5pillars. 3Surely now shall they say, We have no king; for we fear not Jehovah; and the king, what can he do for us?
4They speak vain words, 6swearing falsely in making covenants: therefore judgment 7springeth up as 8hemlock in the furrows of the field. 5The inhabitants of Samaria shall be in terror for the calves of Beth-aven; for the people thereof shall mourn over it, and 9the priests thereof that rejoiced over it, for the glory thereof, because it is departed from it. 6It also shall be carried unto Assyria for a present to king Jareb: Ephraim shall receive shame, and Israel shall be ashamed of his own counsel. 710As for Samaria, her king is cut off, as 11foam upon the water. 8The high places also of Aven, the sin of Israel, shall be destroyed: the thorn and the thistle shall come up on their altars; and they shall say to the mountains, Cover us; and to the hills, Fall on us. 9O Israel, thou hast sinned 12from the days of Gibeah: 13there they stood; 14the battle against the children of iniquity doth not overtake them in Gibeah.
10When it is my desire, I will chastise them; and the peoples shall be gathered against them, when they are 15bound 16to their two transgressions. 11And Ephraim is a heifer that is taught, that loveth to tread out the grain; but I have passed over upon her fair neck: I will set a rider on Ephraim; Judah shall plow, Jacob shall break his clods.
12Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap according to kindness; break up your fallow ground; for it is time to seek Jehovah, till he come and 17rain righteousness upon you. 13Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit of 18lies; for thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men. 14Therefore shall a tumult arise 19among thy 20people, and all thy fortresses shall be destroyed, as Shalman destroyed Beth-arbel in the day of battle: the mother was dashed in pieces with her children. 1521So shall Beth-el do unto you because of your great wickedness: at daybreak shall the king of Israel be utterly cut off.