1. Israel is a luxuriant vinewhose fruit matches its growth.The more abundant his fruit,the more altars he built;The more productive his land,the more sacred pillars he set up.
2. Their heart is false!Now they will pay for their guilt:God will break down their altarsand destroy their sacred pillars.
3. For now they will say,“We have no king!Since we do not fear the Lord,the king—what could he do for us?”
4. They make promises,swear false oaths, and make covenants,While lawsuits sproutlike poisonous weeds in the furrows of a field!
5. The inhabitants of Samaria are afraidfor the calf of Beth-aven;Its people mourn for itand its idolatrous priests wail over it,—over its glory which has departed from it.
6. It too will be carried to Assyria,as an offering to the great king. Ephraim will be put to shame,Israel will be shamed by his schemes.
7. Samaria and her king will disappear,like a twig upon the waters.
8. The high places of Aven will be destroyed,the sin of Israel;thorns and thistles will overgrow their altars.Then they will cry out to the mountains, “Cover us!”and to the hills, “Fall upon us!”
9. Since the days of Gibeahyou have sinned, Israel.There they took their stand;will war not reach them in Gibeah?Against a perverse people
10. I came and I chastised them;Peoples will be gathered against themwhen I bind them to their two crimes.
11. Ephraim was a trained heifer,that loved to thresh;I myself laid a yokeupon her beautiful neck;I will make Ephraim break ground, Judah must plow,Jacob must harrow for himself: