Retribution for Israel’s Sin

¹ Israel was a luxuriant vine,

yielding^* fruit for himself.

The more his fruit increased,

the more he increased the altars.

The better his land produced,

the better he made the sacred pillars.

² Their hearts are devious;

now they must bear their guilt.

The LORD will break down their altars

and demolish their sacred pillars.

³ Surely now they will say,

“We have no king,

for we do not revere the LORD.

What can a king do for us?”

⁴ They speak mere words;

with false oaths they make covenants.

So judgment springs up^*

like poisonous weeds in the furrows of a field.

⁵ The people of Samaria will fear^*

for the calf of Beth-aven.

Indeed, its people will mourn over it

with its idolatrous priests —

those who rejoiced^* in its glory^* —^*

for it has been taken from them into exile.

⁶ Yes, it will be carried to Assyria

as tribute to the great king.

Ephraim will be seized with shame;

Israel will be ashamed of its wooden idols.

⁷ Samaria will be carried off with her king

like a twig on the surface of the water.

⁸ The high places of Aven will be destroyed—

it is the sin of Israel;

thorns and thistles will overgrow their altars.

Then they will say to the mountains, “Cover us!”

and to the hills, “Fall on us!”

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

and there you have remained.

Did not the battle in Gibeah

overtake the sons of iniquity?

¹⁰ I will chasten them when I please;

nations will be gathered against them

to put them in bondage

for their double transgression.

¹¹ Ephraim is a well-trained heifer that loves to thresh;

but I will place a yoke on her fair neck.

I will harness^* Ephraim, Judah will plow,

and Jacob will break the hard ground.

¹² Sow for yourselves righteousness

and reap the fruit of loving devotion;

break up your unplowed ground.

For it is time to seek the LORD

until He comes and sends righteousness

upon you like rain.

¹³ You have plowed wickedness and reaped injustice;

you have eaten the fruit of lies.

Because you have trusted in your own way^*

and in the multitude of your mighty men,

¹⁴ the roar of battle will rise against your people,

so that all your fortresses will be demolished

as Shalman devastated Beth-arbel

in the day of battle,

when mothers were dashed to pieces

along with their children.

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

because of your great wickedness.

When the day dawns,

the king of Israel will be utterly cut off.