Hosea 10

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.

HOSEA 10

1 You were a healthy vine
covered with grapes.
But the more grapes you grew,
the more altars you built;
the better off you became,
the better shrines you set up
for pagan gods.

2 You are deceitful and disloyal.
So you will pay
for your sins,
because the [Lord] will destroy
your altars and images.

3 “We don't have a king,”
you will say.
“We don't fear the [Lord].
And what good are kings?”

4 Israel, you break treaties
and don't keep promises;
you turn justice
into poisonous weeds
where healthy plants should grow.t

5 All who live in Samaria tremble
with concern for the idolst
at sinful Bethel.t
The idol there was the pride
of the priests,
but it has been put to shame;
now everyone will cry.

6 It will be taken to Assyria
and given to the great king.
Then Israel will be disgraced
for worshiping that idol.

7 Like a twig in a stream,
the king of Samaria
will be swept away.

8  t The altars at sinful Bethel
will be destroyed
for causing Israel to sin;
they will be grown over
with thorns and thistles.
Then everyone will beg
the mountains and hills
to cover and protect them.

The [Lord] Promises //To Punish Israel

9  t Israel, you have never
stopped sinningt
since that time at Gibeah.t
That's why you
will be attacked at Gibeah.t

10 Your sins have doubled,
and you are rebellious.
Now I have decided
to send nations to attack
and put you in chains.

11 Once you were obedient
like a calf
that loved to thresh grain.
But I will put a harness
on your beautiful neck;
you and Judah must plow
and cultivate the ground.

12  t Plow your fields,
scatter seeds of justice,
and harvest faithfulness.
Worship me, the [Lord],
and I will send my saving power
down like rain.

13 You have planted evil,
harvested injustice, and eaten
the fruit of your lies.
You trusted your own strength
and your powerful forces.

14 So war will break out,
and your fortresses
will be destroyed.
Your enemies will do to you
what Shalmant did to the people
of Beth-Arbel—
mothers and their children
will be beaten to death
against rocks.

15 Bethel, this will be your fate
because of your evil.
Israel, at dawn your king
will be killed.