Hosea 10

Israel Is Punished

¹Israel is a luxuriant vine;[#Or “ravaged vine”]

he yields fruit for himself.

The more his fruit increased,

The more his land prospered,

²Their heart is false;

He himself will break down their altars;

³For now they will say,

indeed, we did not fear Yahweh,

⁴They utter words of vain oaths

and judgment blossoms like a poisonous plant

⁵The inhabitants of Samaria tremble[#Hebrew “inhabitant”]

Indeed, his people will mourn for it,

⁶It will also be brought to Assyria,

Ephraim will obtain disgrace

⁷Samaria will be destroyed;

⁸The high places of Aven,

Thorn and thistle will grow

They will say to the mountains, “Cover us,”

⁹From the days of Gibeah you have sinned, O Israel;

Will not war in Gibeah overtake them

nations will be gathered against them

¹¹Ephraim was a trained heifer,

and I myself spared

I will make Ephraim break the ground,

¹²Sow for yourselves righteousness;

Break up for yourself fallow ground;

so he will come and rain

¹³You have plowed wickedness,

you have eaten the fruit of lies,

¹⁴The tumult of war will rise up against your people,

on the day of war

¹⁵So it will be done to you, O Bethel,

at dawn, the king of Israel