⁵ The people who live in Samaria fear
    for the calf-idol^(A) of Beth Aven.^[a](B)
Its people will mourn over it,
    and so will its idolatrous priests,^(C)
those who had rejoiced over its splendor,
    because it is taken from them into exile.^(D)
6 It will be carried to Assyria^(E)
    as tribute^(F) for the great king.^(G)
Ephraim will be disgraced;^(H)
    Israel will be ashamed^(I) of its foreign alliances.
⁷ Samaria’s king will be destroyed,^(J)
    swept away like a twig on the surface of the waters.
⁸ The high places^(K) of wickedness^[b](L) will be destroyed—
    it is the sin of Israel.
Thorns^(M) and thistles will grow up
    and cover their altars.^(N)
Then they will say to the mountains, “Cover us!”^(O)
    and to the hills, “Fall on us!”^(P)