Israel was a luxuriant vine , yielding fruit The more his fruit increased , the more he increased the altars. The better his land produced , the better he made the sacred pillars.
Their hearts are devious ; now they must bear their guilt. The LORD will break down their altars and demolish their sacred pillars.
Surely now they will say , no king , for we do not revere - the LORD. What can a king do
They speak mere words ; with false oaths they make covenants. So judgment springs up like poisonous weeds in the furrows of a field.
The people of Samaria will fear for the calf of Beth-aven. Indeed , its people will mourn - with its idolatrous priests — those who rejoiced in its glory — for it has been taken from them into exile .
Yes , - it will be carried to Assyria as tribute to the great king. Ephraim will be seized with shame ; Israel will be ashamed of its wooden idols.
Samaria will be carried off (with) her king like a twig on the surface of the water.
The high places of Aven will be destroyed — (it is) the sin of Israel ; thorns and thistles will overgrow ... their altars. Then they will say to the mountains , “ Cover us ! ” and to the hills , “ Fall on us ! ”
Since the days of Gibeah you have sinned , O Israel , and there you have remained. Did not the battle in Gibeah overtake the sons of iniquity ?
I will chasten them when I please ; nations will be gathered against them to put them in bondage for their double transgression.
Ephraim is a well-trained heifer that loves to thresh ; but I will place a yoke on her fair neck. I will harness Ephraim , Judah will plow , (and) Jacob will break the hard ground
Sow righteousness and reap the fruit ... of loving devotion ; break up unplowed ground. For (it is) time to seek - the LORD until He comes and sends righteousness like rain.
You have plowed wickedness and reaped injustice ; you have eaten the fruit of lies. Because you have trusted in your own way and in the multitude of your mighty men ,
the roar of battle will rise against your people , so that all your fortresses will be demolished as Shalman devastated Beth-arbel in the day of battle , when mothers were dashed to pieces along with their children.
Thus it will be done vvv O Bethel , because of your great wickedness. When the day dawns , the king of Israel will be utterly cut off.