Israel is an empty
vine
, he bringeth forth
fruit
unto himself: according to the multitude
of his fruit
he hath increased
the altars
; according to the goodness
of his land
they have made goodly
images
.
Their heart is divided
; now shall they be found faulty
: he shall break down
their altars
, he shall spoil
their images
.
For now they shall say, We have no king
, because we feared
not the LORD
; what then should a king
do
to us?
They have spoken words
, swearing
falsely
in making
a covenant
: thus judgment
springeth up
as hemlock
in the furrows
of the field
.
The inhabitants of Samaria
shall fear
because of the calves
of Bethaven
: for the people
thereof shall mourn
over it, and the priests
thereof that rejoiced
on it, for the glory
thereof, because it is departed
from it.
It shall be also carried unto Assyria
for a present
to king
Jareb
: Ephraim
shall receive
shame
, and Israel
shall be ashamed
of his own counsel
.
As for Samaria, her king
is cut off
as the foam
upon
the water
.
The 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.
O Israel, thou hast sinned
from the days
of Gibeah
: there they stood
: the battle
in Gibeah
against the children
of iniquity
did not overtake
them.
It is in my desire that I should chastise
them; and the people
shall be gathered
against them, when they shall bind
themselves in their two
furrows
.
And Ephraim is as an heifer
that is taught
, and loveth
to tread out
the corn ; but I passed over
upon her fair
neck
: I will make Ephraim
to ride
; Judah
shall plow
, and Jacob
shall break his clods
.
Sow to yourselves in righteousness
, reap
in
mercy
; break up
your fallow ground
: for it is time
to seek
the LORD
, till he come
and rain
righteousness
upon you.
Ye have plowed wickedness
, ye have reaped
iniquity
; ye have eaten
the fruit
of lies
: because thou didst trust
in thy way
, in the multitude
of thy mighty men
.
Therefore shall a tumult arise
among thy people
, and all thy fortresses
shall be spoiled
, as Shalman
spoiled
Betharbel
in the day
of battle
: the mother
was dashed in pieces
upon her children
.
So shall Bethel
do
unto you because
of your great
wickedness
: in a morning
shall the king
of Israel
utterly
be cut off
.