1Israel was like a spreading vine. They produced fruit for themselves. As they grew more fruit, they built more altars. As their land became richer, they made more beautiful the sacred stones they worshipped.2Their hearts are dishonest. So now they must pay for their sins. The LORD will tear down their altars. He’ll destroy their sacred stones.3Then they’ll say, ‘We don’t have a king. That’s because we didn’t have any respect for the LORD. But suppose we did have a king. What could he do for us?’4They make a lot of promises. They make agreements among themselves. They make promises they don’t mean to keep. So court cases spring up like poisonous weeds in a ploughed field.5The people who live in Samaria are filled with fear. They are afraid for their god that looks like a calf. They’re afraid it will be carried off from Beth Aven, that evil town. They will mourn over it. So will the priests who led them to worship it. The priests were full of joy because their statue was so glorious. But it will be captured and taken far away from them.6It will be carried off to Assyria. The people of Ephraim will be forced to give it to the great king. They will be dishonoured. Israel will be ashamed of its agreements with other nations.7Samaria’s king will be destroyed. He will be like a twig swept away by a river.8The high places where Israel worshipped other gods will be destroyed. That’s where they sinned against the LORD. Thorns and weeds will grow up there. They will cover the altars. Then the people will say to the mountains, ‘Cover us!’ They’ll say to the hills, ‘Fall on us!’9The LORD says, ‘Israel, you have done evil things ever since your people sinned at Gibeah long ago. And you are still doing what is evil. War will come again to those who sinned at Gibeah.10I will punish them when I want to. Nations will gather together to fight against them. They will put them in chains because they have committed so many sins.11Ephraim was like a well-trained young cow. It loved to thresh corn. So I will put a yoke on its pretty neck. I will make Ephraim do hard work. Judah also must plough. So all the people of Jacob must break up the ground.12Your hearts are as hard as a field that has not been ploughed. If you change your ways, you will produce good crops. So plant the seeds of doing what is right. Then you will harvest the fruit of your faithful love. It is time to seek the LORD. When you do, he will come and shower his blessings on you.13But you have planted the seeds of doing what is wrong. So you have harvested the fruit of your evil conduct. You have had to eat the fruit of your lies. You have trusted in your own strength. You have depended on your many soldiers.14But the roar of battle will come against you. All your forts will be completely destroyed. It will happen just as Shalman destroyed Beth Arbel in a battle. Mothers and their children were smashed on the ground.15People of Bethel, that will happen to you. You have committed far too many sins. When the time comes for me to punish you, the king of Israel will be completely destroyed.’
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)