1Israel 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.2Their heart is divided; now shall they be found faulty: he shall break down their altars, he shall spoil their images.3For now they shall say, We have no king, because we feared not the LORD; what then should a king do to us?4They have spoken words, swearing falsely in making a covenant: thus judgment springeth up as hemlock in the furrows of the field.5The 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.6It 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.7As for Samaria, her king is cut off as the foam 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 from the days of Gibeah: there they stood: the battle in Gibeah against the children of iniquity did not overtake them.10It 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.11And 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.12Sow 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.13Ye 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.14Therefore 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.15So shall Bethel do unto you because of your great wickedness: in a morning shall the king of Israel utterly be cut off.
Hosea 10
English Standard Version
1Israel is a luxuriant vine that yields its fruit. The more his fruit increased, the more altars he built; as his country improved, he improved his pillars. (Ps 80:8; Ho 8:11)2Their heart is false; now they must bear their guilt. The Lord[1] will break down their altars and destroy their pillars.3For now they will say: “We have no king, for we do not fear the Lord; and a king—what could he do for us?” (1Sa 12:12; Ho 10:7; Ho 10:15)4They utter mere words; with empty[2] oaths they make covenants; so judgment springs up like poisonous weeds in the furrows of the field. (Ho 4:2; Ho 12:11; Am 5:7; Am 6:12)5The inhabitants of Samaria tremble for the calf[3] of Beth-aven. Its people mourn for it, and so do its idolatrous priests— those who rejoiced over it and over its glory— for it has departed[4] from them. (1Sa 4:21; 1Ki 12:28; Ho 4:15; Ho 9:11)6The thing itself shall be carried to Assyria as tribute to the great king.[5] Ephraim shall be put to shame, and Israel shall be ashamed of his idol.[6] (Isa 46:2; Ho 5:13; Ho 11:6)7Samaria’s king shall perish like a twig on the face of the waters. (Ho 10:3)8The high places of Aven, the sin of Israel, shall be destroyed. Thorn and thistle shall grow up on their altars, and they shall say to the mountains, “Cover us,” and to the hills, “Fall on us.” (1Ki 12:30; Isa 2:19; Ho 9:6; Ho 10:5; Am 8:14; Lu 23:30; Re 6:16)9From the days of Gibeah, you have sinned, O Israel; there they have continued. Shall not the war against the unjust[7] overtake them in Gibeah? (Ho 9:9)10When I please, I will discipline them, and nations shall be gathered against them when they are bound up for their double iniquity. (Ex 32:34; 1Ki 12:28; Ho 7:12)11Ephraim was a trained calf that loved to thresh, and I spared her fair neck; but I will put Ephraim to the yoke; Judah must plow; Jacob must harrow for himself. (De 25:4; Ho 6:4; 1Co 9:9; 1Ti 5:18)12Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap steadfast love; break up your fallow ground, for it is the time to seek the Lord, that he may come and rain righteousness upon you. (Isa 45:8; Jer 4:3; Ho 8:7; Ga 6:8)13You have plowed iniquity; you have reaped injustice; you have eaten the fruit of lies. Because you have trusted in your own way and in the multitude of your warriors, (Ho 8:7)14therefore the tumult of war shall arise among your people, and all your fortresses shall be destroyed, as Shalman destroyed Beth-arbel on the day of battle; mothers were dashed in pieces with their children. (2Ki 17:3; Ho 1:5; Ho 13:16)15Thus it shall be done to you, O Bethel, because of your great evil. At dawn the king of Israel shall be utterly cut off. (Ho 10:5; Ho 10:6)