¹Israel is a luxuriant vine that produces his fruit .

According to the abundance of his fruit he has multiplied his altars .

As their land has prospered , they have adorned their sacred stones.

²Their heart is divided .

Now they will be found guilty.

He will demolish their altars .

He will destroy their sacred stones.

³Surely now they will say, “We have no king ; for we don’t fear the LORD ;

and the king , what can he do for us ?”

⁴They make promises , swearing falsely in making covenants .

Therefore judgement springs up like poisonous weeds in the furrows of the field .

⁵The inhabitants of Samaria will be in terror for the calves of Beth Aven,

for its people will mourn over it ,

along with its priests who rejoiced over it ,

for its glory , because it has departed from it .

⁶It also will be carried to Assyria for a present to a great king .

Ephraim will receive shame ,

and Israel will be ashamed of his own counsel .

⁷Samaria and her king float away

like a twig on the water .

⁸The high places also of Aven, the sin of Israel , will be destroyed .

The thorn and the thistle will come up on their altars .

They will tell the mountains , “Cover us !” and the hills , “Fall on us !”

⁹“Israel , you have sinned from the days of Gibeah .

There they remained .

The battle against the children of iniquity doesn’t overtake them in Gibeah .

¹⁰When it is my desire, I will chastise them ;

and the nations will be gathered against them

when they are bound to their two transgressions.

¹¹Ephraim is a trained heifer that loves to thresh ,

so I will put a yoke on her beautiful neck .

I will set a rider on Ephraim.

Judah will plough.

Jacob will break his clods .

¹²Sow to yourselves in righteousness ,

reap according to kindness .

Break up your fallow ground ,

for it is time to seek the LORD ,

until he comes and rains righteousness on you .

¹³You have ploughed wickedness .

You have reaped iniquity .

You have eaten the fruit of lies ,

for you trusted in your way , in the multitude of your mighty men .

¹⁴Therefore a battle roar will arise amongst your people ,

and all your fortresses will be destroyed ,

as Shalman destroyed Beth Arbel in the day of battle .

The mother was dashed in pieces with her children .

¹⁵So Bethel will do to you because of your great wickedness .

At daybreak the king of Israel will be destroyed .