10
1 Israel was a luxuriant vine that bore fruit for himself.
The more his fruit increased, the more he multiplied altars;
the more his land prospered, the more splendid they made their sacred pillars.
2 Their heart is false;
now they must bear their guilt.
He will break down their altars and destroy their sacred pillars.
3 Now they will say, “We have no king because we have not feared the LORD.
And a king—what could he do for us?”
4 They speak words, swear falsely, and make covenants.
Judgment springs up like poisonous weeds in the furrows of the field.
5 The inhabitants of Samaria tremble for the heifer calves of Beth-aven.
Its people mourn for it, as do its idolatrous priests who rejoiced over it, because its glory has departed from it.
6 It too will be carried to Assyria as tribute to King Jareb.
Ephraim will receive shame, and Israel will be ashamed of his counsel.
7 Samaria’s king will be swept away like a splinter on the surface of the water.
8 The high places of Aven, the sin of Israel, will be destroyed.
Thorns and thistles will grow upon their altars.
They will say to the mountains, “Cover us!”
and to the hills, “Fall on us!”
9 “Since the days of Gibeah you have sinned, Israel.
There they have remained.
Will not war against the children of iniquity overtake them in Gibeah?
10 When I desire, I will discipline them.
Peoples will gather against them when they are bound for their two iniquities.
11 Ephraim is a trained heifer that loves to thresh.
I spared her fair neck;
now I will harness Ephraim.
Judah will plow, and Jacob will harrow for him.
12 Sow for yourselves in righteousness;
reap in accordance with steadfast love.
Break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the LORD, until he comes and rains righteousness upon you.
13 You have plowed wickedness and reaped injustice;
you have eaten the fruit of lies, because you trusted in your way, in the multitude of your warriors.
14 So the tumult of war will rise among your people, and all your fortresses will be devastated, as Shalman devastated Beth-arbel on the day of battle, when a mother was dashed in pieces upon her children.
15 Thus Bethel will do to you because of your great wickedness.
At dawn the king of Israel will be utterly cut off.”