¶ Israel is an empty vine², he bringeth forth fruit unto himself: according to the multitude³ of his fruit he hath increased the altars; according to the goodness of his land they have made goodly images⁴.

Their heart is divided⁵; now shall they be found faulty: he shall break down⁶ their altars, he shall spoil their images.

For now they shall say, We have⁷ no king, because we feared not the LORD; what then should a king do to us?

They have spoken words, swearing⁸ falsely in making a covenant: thus⁹ judgment springeth up as hemlock in the furrows of the field.

The inhabitants of Samaria shall fear because of the calves¹⁰ of Bethaven¹¹: for the people¹² thereof shall mourn over it, and the priests¹³ thereof that rejoiced on it, for the glory¹⁴ thereof, because it is departed from it.

It shall be also carried¹⁵ unto Assyria for a present¹⁶ to king Jareb: Ephraim shall receive¹⁷ shame, and Israel shall be ashamed¹⁸ of his own counsel.

As for Samaria¹⁹, her king²⁰ is cut off as the foam upon the water²¹.

The high places²² also of Aven, the sin²³ of Israel, shall be destroyed: the thorn²⁴ and the thistle shall come up on their altars²⁵; and they shall²⁶ say to the mountains, Cover us; and to the hills, Fall on us.

¶ O Israel, thou hast sinned from²⁷ the days of Gibeah: there they stood: the battle²⁸ in Gibeah against the children of iniquity did²⁹ not overtake them.

¶ It is in my³⁰ desire that I should chastise them; and the³¹ people shall be gathered against them, when they³² shall bind themselves in their two furrows.

And Ephraim is as an heifer³³ that is taught, and loveth³⁴ to tread out the corn; but³⁵ I passed over upon her fair neck³⁶: I will make Ephraim to ride; Judah shall plow, and Jacob shall break his clods.

Sow³⁷ to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break³⁸ up your fallow ground: for it is time³⁹ to seek the LORD, till he come and rain⁴⁰ righteousness upon you.

Ye have plowed⁴¹ wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten⁴² the fruit of lies: because thou didst⁴³ trust in thy way, in the⁴⁴ multitude of thy mighty men.

Therefore shall a⁴⁵ tumult arise among thy people, and all⁴⁶ thy fortresses shall be spoiled, as⁴⁷ Shalman spoiled Betharbel in the day of battle: the mother⁴⁸ was dashed in pieces upon her children.

So shall Bethel⁴⁹ do unto you because of your great wickedness⁵⁰: in⁵¹ a morning shall the king of Israel utterly be cut off.