1Israel is a empty vine, yet hath it brought forth fruit unto itself, and according to the multitude of the fruit thereof he hath increased the altars: according to the goodness of their land they have made fair images.
2Their heart is divided: now shall they be found faulty: he shall break down their altars; he shall destroy their images.
3For now they shall say, We have no King because we feared not the Lord: and what should a King do to us?
4They have spoken words, swearing falsely in making a covenant: thus judgment groweth as wormwood in the furrows of the field.
5The inhabitants of Samaria shall fear because of the calf of Beth Aven: for the people thereof shall mourn over it, and the Chemarims thereof, that rejoiced on it for the glory thereof, because it is departed from it.
6It shall be also brought to Assyria, for a present unto king Jareb: Ephraim shall receive shame, and Israel shall be ashamed of his own counsel.
7Of Samaria, the king thereof is destroyed, as the foam upon the water.
8The high places also of Aven shall be destroyed, even the sin of Israel: the thorn and the thistle shall grow upon their altars, and they shall say to the mountains, Cover us, and to the hills, Fall upon us.
9O Israel, thou hast sinned from the days of Gibeah: there they stood: the battle in Gibeah against the children of iniquity did not touch them.
10It is my desire that I should chastise them, and the people shall be gathered against them, when they shall gather themselves in their two furrows.
11And Ephraim is as a heifer used to delight in threshing: but I will pass by her fair neck: I will make Ephraim to ride: Judah shall plow, and Jacob shall break his clods.
12Sow to yourselves in righteousness: reap after the measure of mercy: break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the Lord, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.
13But you have plowed wickedness: ye have reaped iniquity: you have eaten the fruit of lies: because thou didst trust in thine own ways, and in the multitude of thy strong men,
14Therefore shall a tumult arise among thy people, and all thy munitions shall be destroyed, as Shalman destroyed Beth Arbel in the day of battle: the mother with the children was dashed in pieces.
15So shall Bethel do unto you, because of your malicious wickedness: in a morning shall the king of Israel be destroyed.