4 They speak mere words,

taking false oaths while making covenants.ad

So lawsuits break out

like poisonous weeds in the furrows of a field.ae

5 The residents of Samariaaf will have anxiety

over the calfag of Beth-aven.ah

Indeed, its idolatrous priests rejoiced over it;

the people will mourn over it,

over its glory.ai

It will certainly go into exile.

6 The calf itself will be taken to Assyriaaj

as an offering to the great king.D,ak

Ephraim will experience shame;al

Israel will be ashamed of its counsel.am

7 Samaria’s king will disappearE,an

like foamF on the surface of the water.

8 The high placesao of Aven, the sin of Israel,ap

will be destroyed;

thorns and thistles will grow over their altars.aq

They will say to the mountains,ar “Cover us!”

and to the hills, “Fall on us!”as

ISRAEL’S DEFEAT BECAUSE OF SIN

9 Israel, you have sinned

since the days of Gibeah;at

they have taken their stand there.

Will not war against the unjust

overtake them in Gibeah?