The Book of the Prophet Hosea 10

 The Book of the Prophet Hosea 10

1 Israel is a luxuriant vine; it yields fruit for itself: according to the abundance of its fruit, so it multiplied altars; according to the bounty of the land, so they made fine idols.

2 Their heart is divided; therefore they will be guilty: they will cut down their altars and destroy their idols.

3 Surely now they will say, “We have no king, because we do not fear the Lord; what then can a king do to us?”

4 They have multiplied words, swearing falsely, making a covenant; therefore judgment will flourish like poisonous weeds in the furrows of the fields.

5 The inhabitants of Samaria will be terrified by the calf of Beth-Aven, for its people will mourn because of it, as will its priests (who rejoiced in it), and because of its glory, which it has departed from them.

6 Assyria will also be taken as a gift to King Jareb; Ephraim will be confounded, and Israel will be ashamed because of its own counsel.

7 The king of Samaria will be consumed like foam on the face of the water.

8 And the high places of Aven, the sin of Israel, will be destroyed; thorns and thistles will grow on their altars; and they will say to the mountains, “Cover us!” and to the hills, “Fall on us!”

9 From the days of Gibeah you have sinned, O Israel; there they remained; the battle in Gibeah against the sons of wickedness will not overtake them.

10 I will punish them according to my desire; and the peoples will gather against them, when I bind them to their transgressions.

11 For Ephraim is a trained heifer, that loves to thresh; I have passed over the beauty of her neck; I will make Ephraim ride. Judah will plow, Jacob will break up its clods.

12 Sow righteousness for yourselves, reap unfailing love, break up your fallow ground; for it is time to seek the Lord, until he comes and showers righteousness on you.

13 You have plowed wickedness, you have reaped injustice, you have eaten the fruit of lies, because you trusted in your own way, in the multitude of your mighty men.

14 Therefore, a great tumult will arise among your people, and all your strongholds will be destroyed, as Shalman destroyed Beth-Arbel on the day of battle: there the mother was dashed to pieces with her children.

15 Thus Bethel will do to you, because of the wickedness of your wickedness; the king of Israel will be utterly destroyed at dawn.