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11 “Israel[a] is like a trained heifer treading out the grain—
    an easy job she loves.
    But I will put a heavy yoke on her tender neck.
I will force Judah to pull the plow
    and Israel[b] to break up the hard ground.
12 I said, ‘Plant the good seeds of righteousness,
    and you will harvest a crop of love.
Plow up the hard ground of your hearts,
    for now is the time to seek the Lord,
that he may come
    and shower righteousness upon you.’

13 “But you have cultivated wickedness
    and harvested a thriving crop of sins.
You have eaten the fruit of lies—
    trusting in your military might,
believing that great armies
    could make your nation safe.

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Footnotes

  1. 10:11a Hebrew Ephraim, referring to the northern kingdom of Israel.
  2. 10:11b Hebrew Jacob. The names “Jacob” and “Israel” are often interchanged throughout the Old Testament, referring sometimes to the individual patriarch and sometimes to the nation.

11 Ephraim is a trained heifer
    that loves to thresh;
so I will put a yoke(A)
    on her fair neck.
I will drive Ephraim,
    Judah must plow,
    and Jacob must break up the ground.
12 Sow(B) righteousness(C) for yourselves,
    reap the fruit of unfailing love,
and break up your unplowed ground;(D)
    for it is time to seek(E) the Lord,
until he comes
    and showers his righteousness(F) on you.
13 But you have planted wickedness,
    you have reaped evil,(G)
    you have eaten the fruit of deception.(H)
Because you have depended on your own strength
    and on your many warriors,(I)

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