1 Israel was a spreading vine;

he brought forth fruit for himself.

As his fruit increased,

he built more altars;

as his land prospered,

he adorned his sacred stones.

2 Their heart is deceitful,

and now they must bear their guilt.

The Lord will demolish their altars

and destroy their sacred stones.

3 Then they will say, “We have no king

because we did not revere the Lord.

But even if we had a king,

what could he do for us?”

4 They make many promises,

take false oaths

and make agreements;

therefore lawsuits spring up

like poisonous weeds in a plowed field.

5 The people who live in Samaria fear

for the calf-idol of Beth Aven.

Its people will mourn over it,

and so will its idolatrous priests,

those who had rejoiced over its splendor,

because it is taken from them into exile.

6 It will be carried to Assyria

as tribute for the great king.

Ephraim will be disgraced;

Israel will be ashamed of its foreign alliances.

7 Samaria’s king will be destroyed,

swept away like a twig on the surface of the waters.

8 The high places of wickedness will be destroyed—

it is the sin of Israel.

Thorns and thistles will grow up

and cover their altars.

Then 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,

and there you have remained.

Will not war again overtake

the evildoers in Gibeah?

10 When I please, I will punish them;

nations will be gathered against them

to put them in bonds for their double sin.

11 Ephraim is a trained heifer

that loves to thresh;

so I will put a yoke

on her fair neck.

I will drive Ephraim,

Judah must plow,

and Jacob must break up the ground.

12 Sow righteousness for yourselves,

reap the fruit of unfailing love,

and break up your unplowed ground;

for it is time to seek the Lord,

until he comes

and showers his righteousness on you.

13 But you have planted wickedness,

you have reaped evil,

you have eaten the fruit of deception.

Because you have depended on your own strength

and on your many warriors,

14 the roar of battle will rise against your people,

so that all your fortresses will be devastated—

as Shalman devastated Beth Arbel on the day of battle,

when mothers were dashed to the ground with their children.

15 So will it happen to you, Bethel,

because your wickedness is great.

When that day dawns,

the king of Israel will be completely destroyed.

1 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.

2 Their heart is divided; now shall they be found faulty:

He shall break down their altars, he shall spoil their images.

3 For now they shall say, We have no king,

Because we feared not the Lord;

What then should a king do to us?

4 They have spoken words, swearing falsely in making a covenant:

Thus judgment springeth up as hemlock in the furrows of the field.

5 The inhabitants of Samaria shall fear because of the calves of Beth-aven:

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.

6 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.

7 As for Samaria, her king is cut off

As the foam upon the water.

8 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.

9 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.

10 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.

11 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.

12 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.

13 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.

14 Therefore shall a tumult arise among thy people,

And all thy fortresses shall be spoiled,

As Shalman spoiled Beth-arbel in the day of battle:

The mother was dashed in pieces upon her children.

15 So shall Beth-el do unto you because of your great wickedness:

In a morning shall the king of Israel utterly be cut off.

1 How prosperous Israel is—

a luxuriant vine loaded with fruit.

But the richer the people get,

the more pagan altars they build.

The more bountiful their harvests,

the more beautiful their sacred pillars.

2 The hearts of the people are fickle;

they are guilty and must be punished.

The Lord will break down their altars

and smash their sacred pillars.

3 Then they will say, “We have no king

because we didn’t fear the Lord.

But even if we had a king,

what could he do for us anyway?”

4 They spout empty words

and make covenants they don’t intend to keep.

So injustice springs up among them

like poisonous weeds in a farmer’s field.

5 The people of Samaria tremble in fear

for their calf idol at Beth-aven,

and they mourn for it.

Though its priests rejoice over it,

its glory will be stripped away.

6 This idol will be carted away to Assyria,

a gift to the great king there.

Ephraim will be ridiculed and Israel will be shamed,

because its people have trusted in this idol.

7 Samaria and its king will be cut off;

they will float away like driftwood on an ocean wave.

8 And the pagan shrines of Aven, the place of Israel’s sin, will crumble.

Thorns and thistles will grow up around their altars.

They will beg the mountains, “Bury us!”

and plead with the hills, “Fall on us!”

9 The Lord says, “O Israel, ever since Gibeah,

there has been only sin and more sin!

You have made no progress whatsoever.

Was it not right that the wicked men of Gibeah were attacked?

10 Now whenever it fits my plan,

I will attack you, too.

I will call out the armies of the nations

to punish you for your multiplied sins.

11 “Israel is like a trained heifer treading out the grain—

an easy job she loves.

But I will put a heavy yoke on her tender neck.

I will force Judah to pull the plow

and Israel to break up the hard ground.

12 I said, ‘Plant the good seeds of righteousness,

and you will harvest a crop of love.

Plow up the hard ground of your hearts,

for now is the time to seek the Lord,

that he may come

and shower righteousness upon you.’

13 “But you have cultivated wickedness

and harvested a thriving crop of sins.

You have eaten the fruit of lies—

trusting in your military might,

believing that great armies

could make your nation safe.

14 Now the terrors of war

will rise among your people.

All your fortifications will fall,

just as when Shalman destroyed Beth-arbel.

Even mothers and children

were dashed to death there.

15 You will share that fate, Bethel,

because of your great wickedness.

When the day of judgment dawns,

the king of Israel will be completely destroyed.

1 Israel empties his vine;

He brings forth fruit for himself.

According to the multitude of his fruit

He has increased the altars;

According to the bounty of his land

They have embellished his sacred pillars.

2 Their heart is divided;

Now they are held guilty.

He will break down their altars;

He will ruin their sacred pillars.

3 For now they say,

“We have no king,

Because we did not fear the Lord.

And as for a king, what would he do for us?”

4 They have spoken words,

Swearing falsely in making a covenant.

Thus judgment springs up like hemlock in the furrows of the field.

5 The inhabitants of Samaria fear

Because of the calf of Beth Aven.

For its people mourn for it,

And its priests shriek for it—

Because its glory has departed from it.

6 The idol also shall be carried to Assyria

As a present for King Jareb.

Ephraim shall receive shame,

And Israel shall be ashamed of his own counsel.

7 As for Samaria, her king is cut off

Like a twig on the water.

8 Also the high places of Aven, the sin of Israel,

Shall be destroyed.

The thorn and thistle shall grow on their altars;

They shall say to the mountains, “Cover us!”

And to the hills, “Fall on us!”

9 “O Israel, you have sinned from the days of Gibeah;

There they stood.

The battle in Gibeah against the children of iniquity

Did not overtake them.

10 When it is My desire, I will chasten them.

Peoples shall be gathered against them

When I bind them for their two transgressions.

11 Ephraim is a trained heifer

That loves to thresh grain;

But I harnessed her fair neck,

I will make Ephraim pull a plow.

Judah shall plow;

Jacob shall break his clods.”

12 Sow for yourselves righteousness;

Reap in mercy;

Break up your fallow ground,

For it is time to seek the Lord,

Till He comes and rains righteousness on you.

13 You have plowed wickedness;

You have reaped iniquity.

You have eaten the fruit of lies,

Because you trusted in your own way,

In the multitude of your mighty men.

14 Therefore tumult shall arise among your people,

And all your fortresses shall be plundered

As Shalman plundered Beth Arbel in the day of battle—

A mother dashed in pieces upon her children.

15 Thus it shall be done to you, O Bethel,

Because of your great wickedness.

At dawn the king of Israel

Shall be cut off utterly.

1 Israel is like a large vine

that produced plenty of fruit.

As the people became richer,

they built more altars for idols.

As their land became better,

they put up better stone pillars to honor gods.

2 Their heart was false,

and now they must pay for their guilt.

The Lord will break down their altars;

he will destroy their holy stone pillars.

3 Then they will say, “We have no king,

because we didn’t honor the Lord.

As for the king,

he couldn’t do anything for us.”

4 They make many false promises

and agreements which they don’t keep.

So people sue each other in court;

they are like poisonous weeds growing in a plowed field.

5 The people from Israel are worried about

the calf-shaped idol at Beth Aven.

The people will cry about it,

and the priests will cry about it.

They used to shout for joy about its glory,

6 but it will be carried off to Assyria

as a gift to the great king.

Israel will be disgraced,

and the people will be ashamed for not obeying.

7 Israel will be destroyed;

its king will be like a chip of wood floating on the water.

8 The places of false worship will be destroyed,

the places where Israel sins.

Thorns and weeds will grow up

and cover their altars.

Then they will say to the mountains, “Cover us!”

and to the hills, “Fall on us!”

9 “Israel, you have sinned since the time of Gibeah,

and the people there have continued sinning.

But war will surely overwhelm them in Gibeah,

because of the evil they have done there.

10 When I am ready,

I will come to punish them.

Nations will come together against them,

and they will be punished for their double sins.

11 Israel is like a well-trained young cow

that likes to thresh grain.

I will put a yoke on her neck

and make her work hard in the field.

Israel will plow,

and Judah will break up the ground.

12 I said, ‘Plant goodness,

harvest the fruit of loyalty,

plow the new ground of knowledge.

Look for the Lord until he comes

and pours goodness on you like water.’

13 But you have plowed evil

and harvested trouble;

you have eaten the fruit of your lies.

Because you have trusted in your own power

and your many soldiers,

14 your people will hear the noise of battle,

and all your strong, walled cities will be destroyed.

It will be like the time King Shalman

destroyed Beth Arbel in battle,

when mothers and their children were bashed to death.

15 The same will happen to you, people of Bethel,

because you did so much evil.

When the sun comes up,

the king of Israel will die.

1 Israel is a luxuriant vine, that putteth forth his fruit: according to the abundance of his fruit he hath multiplied his altars; according to the goodness of their land they have made goodly pillars. 2 Their heart is divided; now shall they be found guilty: he will smite their altars, he will destroy their pillars. 3 Surely now shall they say, We have no king; for we fear not Jehovah; and the king, what can he do for us?

4 They speak vain words, swearing falsely in making covenants: therefore judgment springeth up as hemlock in the furrows of the field. 5 The inhabitants of Samaria shall be in terror for the calves of Beth-aven; for the people thereof shall mourn over it, and the priests thereof that rejoiced over it, for the glory thereof, because it is departed from it. 6 It also, shall be carried unto Assyria for a present to king Jareb: Ephraim shall receive shame, and Israel shall be ashamed of his own counsel. 7 As for Samaria, her king is cut off, as foam upon the water. 8 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.

9 O Israel, thou hast sinned from the days of Gibeah: there they stood; the battle against the children of iniquity doth not overtake them in Gibeah. 10 When it is my desire, I will chastise them; and the peoples shall be gathered against them, when they are bound to their two transgressions. 11 And Ephraim is a heifer that is taught, that loveth to tread out the grain; but I have passed over upon her fair neck: I will set a rider on Ephraim; Judah shall plow, Jacob shall break his clods.

12 Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap according to kindness; break up your fallow ground; for it is time to seek Jehovah, till he come and rain righteousness upon you. 13 Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit of lies; for thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men. 14 Therefore shall a tumult arise among thy people, and all thy fortresses shall be destroyed, as Shalman destroyed Beth-arbel in the day of battle: the mother was dashed in pieces with her children. 15 So shall Beth-el do unto you because of your great wickedness: at daybreak shall the king of Israel be utterly cut off.

1 Israel is an unpruned vine, he bringeth forth fruit unto himself: according to the abundance of his fruit he hath multiplied altars; according to the goodness of his land they have made goodly statues. 2 Their heart is divided; now shall they be found guilty: he will break down their altars, he will destroy their statues. 3 For now they will say, We have no king, for we feared not Jehovah; and a king, what can he do for us? 4 They speak mere words, swearing falsely in making a covenant; therefore shall judgment spring up as hemlock in the furrows of the fields. 5 The inhabitants of Samaria shall fear because of the calf of Beth-aven; for the people thereof shall mourn over it, and the idolatrous priests thereof shall tremble for it, for its glory, because it is departed from it. 6 Yea, it shall be carried unto Assyria as a present for king Jareb: Ephraim shall be seized with shame, and Israel shall be ashamed of his own counsel. 7 As for Samaria her king is cut off as chips upon the face of the waters. 8 And the high places of Aven, the sin of Israel, shall be destroyed: the thorn and the thistle shall come up upon their altars; and they shall say to the mountains, Cover us! and to the hills, Fall on us!

9 From the days of Gibeah hast thou sinned, O Israel: there they stood: the battle in Gibeah against the children of iniquity did not overtake them. 10 At my pleasure will I chastise them; and the peoples shall be assembled against them, when they are bound for their two iniquities. 11 And Ephraim is a trained heifer, that loveth to tread out the corn; I have passed over upon her fair neck: I will make Ephraim to draw; Judah shall plough, Jacob shall break his clods. 12 Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap according to mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek Jehovah, till he come and rain righteousness upon you. 13 Ye have ploughed wickedness, reaped iniquity, eaten the fruit of lies; for thou didst confide in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men. 14 And a tumult shall arise among thy peoples, and all thy fortresses shall be spoiled, as Shalman spoiled Beth-arbel in the day of battle: the mother was dashed in pieces with the children. 15 So shall Bethel do unto you because of the wickedness of your wickedness: at day-break shall the king of Israel utterly be cut off.

1 The people of Israel are like vines that used to produce fruit. 

The more fruit they produced, 

the more altars they built. 

The more their land produced, 

the more stone markers they set up ⸤to honor other gods⸥. 

2 They are hypocrites. Now they must take their punishment. 

God will tear down their altars and destroy their stone markers. 

3 So they’ll say, 

“We have no king because we didn’t fear the Lord. 

Even if we had a king, he couldn’t do anything for us.” 

4 They say many things. They lie when they take oaths, 

and they make promises they don’t intend to keep. 

That’s why lawsuits spring up 

like poisonous weeds in the furrows of a field. 

5 Those who live in Samaria fear the calf-shaped idol at Beth Aven. 

The people will mourn over it. 

The priests will cry loudly 

because its glory will be taken away into captivity. 

6 The thing itself will be carried to Assyria 

as a present to the great king.

Ephraim will be disgraced. 

Israel will be ashamed because of its plans. 

7 The king of Samaria will be carried away 

like a piece of wood on water. 

8 The illegal worship sites of Aven will be destroyed. 

Israel sins there. 

Thorns and weeds will grow over those altars. 

People will say to the mountains, “Cover us!” 

and to the hills, “Fall on us!” 

9 Israel, you have sinned ever since the incident at Gibeah. 

You never change. 

War will overtake the wicked people in Gibeah. 

10 “I will punish them when I’m ready. 

Armies will gather to attack them. 

They will be punished for their many sins. 

11 “Ephraim is like a trained calf that loves to threshgrain. 

I will put a yokeon its beautiful neck. 

I will harness Ephraim. 

Judah must plow. 

Jacob must break up the ground. 

12 “Break new ground. 

Plant righteousness, 

and harvest the fruit that your loyalty will produce for me.” 

It’s time to seek the Lord! 

When he comes, he will rain righteousness on you. 

13 You have planted wickedness and harvested evil. 

You have eaten the fruit that your lies produced. 

You have trusted your own power and your many warriors. 

14 So your army will hear the noise of battle. 

All your fortresses will be destroyed 

like the time Shalman destroyed Beth Arbel in battle. 

Mothers and their children were smashed to death. 

15 This is what will happen to you, Bethel, 

because you have done many wicked things. 

At daybreak, the king of Israel will be completely destroyed. 

1 Israel is a lush vine;

it yields fruit for itself.

The more his fruit increased,

the more he increased the altars.

The better his land produced,

the better they made the sacred pillars.

2 Their hearts are devious;

now they must bear their guilt.

The Lord will break down their altars

and demolish their sacred pillars.

3 In fact, they are now saying,

“We have no king!

For we do not fear the Lord.

What can a king do for us?”

4 They speak mere words,

taking false oaths while making covenants.

So lawsuits break out

like poisonous weeds in the furrows of a field.

5 The residents of Samaria will have anxiety

over the calf of Beth-aven.

Indeed, its idolatrous priests rejoiced over it;

the people will mourn over it,

over its glory.

It will certainly depart from them.

6 The calf itself will be taken to Assyria

as an offering to the great king.

Ephraim will experience shame;

Israel will be ashamed of its counsel.

7 Samaria’s king will disappear

like foam on the surface of the water.

8 The high places of Aven, the sin of Israel,

will be destroyed;

thorns and thistles will grow over their altars.

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

and to the hills, “Fall on us!”

9 Israel, you have sinned

since the days of Gibeah;

they have taken their stand there.

Will not war against the unjust

overtake them in Gibeah?

10 I will discipline them at My discretion;

nations will be gathered against them

to put them in bondage

for their two crimes.

11 Ephraim is a well-trained calf

that loves to thresh,

but I will place a yoke on her fine neck.

I will harness Ephraim;

Judah will plow;

Jacob will do the final plowing.

12 Sow righteousness for yourselves

and reap faithful love;

break up your unplowed ground.

It is time to seek the Lord

until He comes and sends righteousness

on you like the rain.

13 You have plowed wickedness and reaped injustice;

you have eaten the fruit of lies.

Because you have trusted in your own way

and in your large number of soldiers,

14 the roar of battle will rise against your people,

and all your fortifications will be demolished

in a day of war,

like Shalman’s destruction of Beth-arbel.

Mothers will be dashed to pieces

along with their children.

15 So it will be done to you, Bethel,

because of your extreme evil.

At dawn the king of Israel will be totally destroyed.

1 Israel 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.

2 Their heart is false;

now they must bear their guilt.

The Lord will break down their altars,

and destroy their pillars.

3 For now they will say:

“We have no king,

for we do not fear the Lord,

and a king—what could he do for us?”

4 They utter mere words;

with empty oaths they make covenants;

so litigation springs up like poisonous weeds

in the furrows of the field.

5 The inhabitants of Samaria tremble

for the calf of Beth-aven.

Its people shall mourn for it,

and its idolatrous priests shall wail over it,

over its glory that has departed from it.

6 The thing itself shall be carried to Assyria

as tribute to the great king.

Ephraim shall be put to shame,

and Israel shall be ashamed of his idol.

7 Samaria’s king shall perish

like a chip on the face of the waters.

8 The high places of Aven, the sin of Israel,

shall be destroyed.

Thorn and thistle shall grow up

on their altars.

They shall say to the mountains, Cover us,

and to the hills, Fall on us.

9 Since the days of Gibeah you have sinned, O Israel;

there they have continued.

Shall not war overtake them in Gibeah?

10 I will come against the wayward people to punish them;

and nations shall be gathered against them

when they are punished for their double iniquity.

11 Ephraim was a trained heifer

that loved to thresh,

and I spared her fair neck;

but I will make Ephraim break the ground;

Judah must plow;

Jacob must harrow for himself.

12 Sow for yourselves righteousness;

reap steadfast love;

break up your fallow ground;

for it is time to seek the Lord,

that he may come and rain righteousness upon you.

13 You have plowed wickedness,

you have reaped injustice,

you have eaten the fruit of lies.

Because you have trusted in your power

and in the multitude of your warriors,

14 therefore the tumult of war shall rise against your people,

and all your fortresses shall be destroyed,

as Shalman destroyed Beth-arbel on the day of battle

when mothers were dashed in pieces with their children.

15 Thus it shall be done to you, O Bethel,

because of your great wickedness.

At dawn the king of Israel

shall be utterly cut off.

1 Israel is a luxuriant vine;

he yields fruit for himself.

The more his fruit increased,

the more he made numerous altars.

The more his land prospered,

the more he improved his stone pillars.

2 Their heart is false;

now they must bear their guilt.

He himself will break down their altars;

he will destroy their stone pillars.

3 For now they will say,

“We have no king;

indeed, we did not fear Yahweh,

and what can a king do for us?”

4 They utter words of vain oaths

when making covenants,

and judgment blossoms like a poisonous plant

on the furrows of the field.

5 The inhabitants of Samaria tremble

for the calf of Beth-aven.

Indeed, his people will mourn for it,

and his idolatrous priests will wail over it—

over its glory because it has departed from it.

6 It will also be brought to Assyria,

as tribute to the great king.

Ephraim will obtain disgrace

and Israel will be ashamed from his advice.

7 Samaria will be destroyed;

her king is like a chip on the surface of the water.

8 The high places of Aven,

the sin of Israel, will be destroyed.

Thorn and thistle will grow

on their altars.

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

and to the hills, “Fall on us.”

9 From the days of Gibeah you have sinned, O Israel;

there they have remained.

Will not war in Gibeah overtake them

against the children of evil?

10 In my desire I will punish them;

nations will be gathered against them

when they are punished for their double iniquities.

11 Ephraim was a trained heifer,

that loved to thresh grain,

and I myself spared

the fairness of her neck;

I will make Ephraim break the ground,

Judah will plow,

Jacob must till for himself.

12 Sow for yourselves righteousness;

reap loyal love.

Break up for yourself fallow ground;

it is time to seek Yahweh

so he will come and rain

righteousness upon you.

13 You have plowed wickedness,

you have reaped injustice,

you have eaten the fruit of lies,

because you have trusted in your strength,

in the multitude of your warriors.

14 The tumult of war will rise up against your people,

and all your fortresses will be destroyed,

as Shalman destroyed Beth-arbel;

on the day of war

mothers were dashed to pieces with their children.

15 So it will be done to you, O Bethel,

because of the evil of your wickedness;

at dawn, the king of Israel

will be utterly destroyed.

1 Israel 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 the sacred stones they worshiped more beautiful.

2 Their hearts are dishonest.

So now they must pay for their sins.

The Lord will tear their altars down.

He’ll destroy their sacred stones.

3 Then 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?”

4 They make a lot of promises.

They make agreements among themselves.

They take oaths they don’t mean to keep.

So court cases spring up

like poisonous weeds in a plowed field.

5 The people who live in Samaria are filled with fear.

They are afraid their god that looks like a calf

will be carried off from Bethel.

They will sob over it.

So will the priests who lead 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.

6 It will be carried off to Assyria.

The people of Ephraim will be forced

to give it to the great king.

They will be dishonored.

Israel will be ashamed

that all they have left to worship is a wooden god.

7 Samaria’s king will be carried off.

He will be like a twig floating away in a river.

8 The high places where Israel worshiped 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!”

9 The 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 caught up

with those who sinned at Gibeah.

10 So I will punish you when I want to.

Nations will gather together to fight against you.

They will put you in chains

because you have committed so many sins.

11 Ephraim, you were like a well-trained young cow.

It loved to thresh grain.

I spared its pretty neck

from pulling heavy loads.

But now I will make you do hard work.

Judah also must plow.

So all of the people of Jacob

must break up the ground.

12 Your hearts are as hard as a field

that has not been plowed.

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 turn to me.

When you do, I will come

and shower my blessings on you.

13 But 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.

14 But the roar of battle will come against you.

All of 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.

15 People of Bethel, that will happen to you.

You have committed far too many sins.

When the time for me to punish you comes,

your king will be completely destroyed.”

1 Israel is a luxuriant vine;

He produces fruit for himself.

The more his fruit,

The more altars he made;

The richer his land,

The better he made the sacred pillars.

2 Their heart is faithless;

Now they must bear their guilt.

The Lord will break down their altars

And destroy their sacred pillars.

3 Surely now they will say, “We have no king,

For we do not revere the Lord.

As for the king, what can he do for us?”

4 They speak mere words,

With worthless oaths they make covenants;

And judgment sprouts like poisonous weeds in the furrows of the field.

5 The inhabitants of Samaria will fear

For the calf of Beth-aven.

Indeed, its people will mourn for it,

And its idolatrous priests will cry out over it,

Over its glory, since it has departed from it.

6 The thing itself will be carried to Assyria

As tribute to King Jareb;

Ephraim will be seized with shame

And Israel will be ashamed of its own counsel.

7 Samaria will be cut off with her king

Like a stick on the surface of the water.

8 Also the high places of Aven, the sin of Israel, will be destroyed;

Thorn and thistle will grow on their altars;

Then they will say to the mountains,

“Cover us!” And to the hills, “Fall on us!”

9 From the days of Gibeah you have sinned, O Israel;

There they stand!

Will not the battle against the sons of iniquity overtake them in Gibeah?

10 When it is My desire, I will chastise them;

And the peoples will be gathered against them

When they are bound for their double guilt.

11 Ephraim is a trained heifer that loves to thresh,

But I will come over her fair neck with a yoke;

I will harness Ephraim,

Judah will plow, Jacob will harrow for himself.

12 Sow with a view to righteousness,

Reap in accordance with kindness;

Break up your fallow ground,

For it is time to seek the Lord

Until He comes to rain righteousness on you.

13 You have plowed wickedness, you have reaped injustice,

You have eaten the fruit of lies.

Because you have trusted in your way, in your numerous warriors,

14 Therefore a tumult will arise among your people,

And all your fortresses will be destroyed,

As Shalman destroyed Beth-arbel on the day of battle,

When mothers were dashed in pieces with their children.

15 Thus it will be done to you at Bethel because of your great wickedness.

At dawn the king of Israel will be completely cut off.