1 Israel is an empty vine, he bringeth forth fruit unto himself:
according to the multitude of his fruit he hath increased the
altars; according to the goodness of his land they have made
goodly images.
2 Their heart is divided; now shall they be found faulty: he
shall break down their altars, he shall spoil their images.
3 For now they shall say, We have no king, because we feared not
the LORD; what then should a king do to us?
4 They have spoken words, swearing falsely in making a covenant:
thus judgment springeth up as hemlock in the furrows of the
field.
5 The inhabitants of Samaria shall fear because of the calves of
Bethaven: for the people thereof shall mourn over it, and the
priests thereof that rejoiced on it, for the glory thereof,
because it is departed from it.
6 It shall be also carried unto Assyria for a present to king
Jareb: Ephraim shall receive shame, and Israel shall be
ashamed of his own counsel.
7 As for Samaria, her king is cut off as the foam upon the
water.
8 The high places also of Aven, the sin of Israel, shall be
destroyed: the thorn and the thistle shall come up on their
altars; and they shall say to the mountains, Cover us; and to
the hills, Fall on us.
9 O Israel, thou hast sinned from the days of Gibeah: there they
stood: the battle in Gibeah against the children of iniquity
did not overtake them.
10 It is in my desire that I should chastise them; and the people
shall be gathered against them, when they shall bind
themselves in their two furrows.
11 And Ephraim is as an heifer that is taught, and loveth to
tread out the corn; but I passed over upon her fair neck: I
will make Ephraim to ride; Judah shall plow, and Jacob shall
break his clods.
12 Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up
your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he
come and rain righteousness upon you.
13 Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have
eaten the fruit of lies: because thou didst trust in thy way,
in the multitude of thy mighty men.
14 Therefore shall a tumult arise among thy people, and all thy
fortresses shall be spoiled, as Shalman spoiled Betharbel in
the day of battle: the mother was dashed in pieces upon her
children.
15 So shall Bethel do unto you because of your great wickedness:
in a morning shall the king of Israel utterly be cut off.
|
