4. They make many false promises.They make agreements 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 aboutthe calf-shaped idol at Beth Aven.The people and the priests will crybecause their glorious idol is gone.
6. It will be carried off as a payment that was demandedto the great king of Assyria.Israel will be disgraced.The people will be ashamed of trusting that idol.
7. The king of Israel will be carried offlike a chip of wood floating on the water.
8. The places of worship at Beth Aven will be destroyed.They are where Israel sins.Thorns and weeds will grow upand cover their altars.Then they will say to the mountains, “Cover us!”And they will say to the hills, “Fall on us!”
9. “Israel, you have sinned since the time of Gibeah.The people there have continued sinning.But war will surely overwhelm them,because of the evil they have done there.
10. When I am ready,I will come to punish them.Armies will come together against them.They will be punished for their many sins.
11. Israel is like a well-trained young cowthat likes to thresh grain.But I will put a yoke on her neck.I will make Israel work hard in the field.Judah will plow.Israel will break up the ground.
12. I said, ‘Break new ground.Plant what is right.Then you will harvest good thingsfrom your loyalty to me.It is time for you to turn back to me, the Lord.Do it until I come and pour out my goodness on you.’