Israel’s Sin and Captivity
1 Israelemptieshisvine;
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 embellishedhissacredpillars.
2 Their heart isdivided;
Now they are held guilty.
He will break down their altars;
He will ruin theirsacredpillars.
3 For now they say,
“We have no king,
Because we did not fear theLord.
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 uplike hemlock in the furrows of the field.
5 The inhabitants of Samaria fear
# Because of thecalf of Beth Aven.
For its people mourn for it,
And its priests shriek for it—
# Because itsglory has departed from it.
6 Theidolalso shall be carried to Assyria
# Asa present for KingJareb.
Ephraim shall receive shame,
And Israel shall be ashamed of his own counsel.
7 AsforSamaria, her king is cut off
Like a twig on the water.
8 Also thehigh 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 ofGibeah;
There they stood.
# Thebattle in Gibeah against the children of iniquity
Did not overtake them.
10 WhenitisMy desire, I will chasten them.
# Peoples shall be gathered against them
When I bind them for their two transgressions.
11 Ephraimisa trained heifer
That loves to threshgrain;
But I harnessed her fair neck,
I will make Ephraim pullaplow.
Judah shall plow;
Jacob shall break his clods.”
12 Sow for yourselves righteousness;
Reap in mercy;
# Break up your fallow ground,
Foritistime to seek theLord,
# Till Hecomes 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 uponherchildren.
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.