The folly of Israel’s idolatry

¹Israel is a growing vine

The more his fruit increased,

the richer his land became,

²Their heart is false;

The LORD will break down their altars

³For now they will say:

because we don’t love the LORD .

⁴They have spoken empty words,

so judgment springs up like poisonous weeds

⁵The inhabitants of Samaria shake

Its people will mourn over it,

Shame and punishment

⁶To Assyria it will be carried

Ephraim will be put to shame;

⁷Samaria will be cut off;

⁸The sin of Israel, the shrines of Aven

Thorn and thistle will sprout up

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

⁹Since the days of Gibeah, you have sinned, Israel;

¹⁰I will come and punish them;

¹¹Ephraim was a trained cow that loved to pull a plow;

¹²Sow for yourselves righteousness;

break up your unplanted ground,

¹³You have plowed wickedness,

because you have trusted in your way

¹⁴Therefore, the noise of war will rise against your people;

as Shalman destroyed Beth-arbel on the day of battle,

¹⁵It will indeed happen to you, Bethel,

At dawn, the king of Israel will be cut off completely.