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10 Israel is a luxuriant vine that produces his fruit.

    According to the abundance of his fruit he has multiplied his altars.
    As their land has prospered, they have adorned their sacred stones.
Their heart is divided.
    Now they will be found guilty.
    He will demolish their altars.
    He will destroy their sacred stones.
Surely now they will say, “We have no king; for we don’t fear Yahweh;
    and the king, what can he do for us?”
They make promises, swearing falsely in making covenants.
    Therefore judgment springs up like poisonous weeds in the furrows of the field.
The inhabitants of Samaria will be in terror for the calves of Beth Aven;
    for its people will mourn over it,
    Along with its priests who rejoiced over it,
    for its glory, because it has departed from it.
It also will be carried to Assyria for a present to a great king.
    Ephraim will receive shame,
    and Israel will be ashamed of his own counsel.
Samaria and her king float away,
    like a twig on the water.
The high places also of Aven, the sin of Israel, will be destroyed.
    The thorn and the thistle will come up on their altars.
    They will tell the mountains, “Cover us!” and the hills, “Fall on us!”

“Israel, you have sinned from the days of Gibeah.
    There they remained.
    The battle against the children of iniquity doesn’t overtake them in Gibeah.
10 When it is my desire, I will chastise them;
    and the nations will be gathered against them,
    when they are bound to their two transgressions.
11 Ephraim is a trained heifer that loves to thresh;
    so I will put a yoke on her beautiful neck.
    I will set a rider on Ephraim.
    Judah will plow.
    Jacob will break his clods.
12 Sow to yourselves in righteousness,
    reap according to kindness.
Break up your fallow ground;
    for it is time to seek Yahweh,
    until he comes and rains righteousness on you.
13 You have plowed wickedness.
    You have reaped iniquity.
    You have eaten the fruit of lies,
    for you trusted in your way, in the multitude of your mighty men.
14 Therefore a battle roar will arise among your people,
    and all your fortresses will be destroyed,
    as Shalman destroyed Beth Arbel in the day of battle.
    The mother was dashed in pieces with her children.
15 So Bethel will do to you because of your great wickedness.
    At daybreak the king of Israel will be destroyed.

Retribution for Israel’s Sin

10 Israel is a luxuriant (A)vine;
He produces fruit for himself.
The more his fruit,
The more altars he (B)made;
The [a]richer his land,
The better [b]he made the (C)memorial stones.
Their heart is [c](D)deceitful;
Now they must suffer for their (E)guilt.
[d]The Lord will (F)break down their altars
And destroy their memorial stones.

Certainly now they will say, “We have (G)no king,
For we do not revere the Lord.
As for the king, what can he do for us?”
They speak mere words,
[e]With (H)worthless oaths they make covenants;
And (I)judgment sprouts like poisonous weeds in the furrows of the field.
The inhabitants of Samaria will fear
For the [f](J)calf of (K)Beth-aven.
Indeed, its people will mourn for it,
And its (L)idolatrous priests [g]will cry out over it,
Over its (M)glory, since it has left it.
The thing itself will be brought to (N)Assyria
As a gift of tribute to [h](O)King Jareb;
Ephraim will [i]be (P)seized with shame,
And Israel will be ashamed of its (Q)own plan.
Samaria will be (R)destroyed with her king,
Like a twig on the surface of the water.
Also the (S)high places of Aven, the (T)sin of Israel, will be destroyed;
(U)Thorns and thistles will grow on their altars;
Then they will (V)say to the mountains,
“Cover us!” And to the hills, “Fall on us!”
Since the days of Gibeah you have sinned, Israel;
There they stand!
Will the battle against the sons of injustice not overtake them in Gibeah?
10 When it is My (W)desire, I will [j](X)discipline them;
And (Y)the peoples will be gathered against them
When they are bound for their double guilt.

11 Ephraim is a trained (Z)heifer that loves to thresh,
[k]And I (AA)passed over her lovely neck;
I will harness Ephraim,
Judah will plow, Jacob will [l]harrow for himself.
12 (AB)Sow for yourselves, with a view to righteousness;
Harvest in accordance with [m]kindness.
(AC)Break up your uncultivated ground,
For it is time to (AD)seek the Lord
Until He (AE)comes and (AF)rains righteousness on you.
13 You have (AG)plowed wickedness, you have harvested injustice,
You have eaten the fruit of (AH)lies.
Because you have trusted in your way, in your (AI)many warriors,
14 An uproar will arise among your people,
And all your (AJ)fortresses will be destroyed,
As Shalman destroyed Beth-arbel on the day of battle,
When (AK)mothers were [n]slaughtered with their children.
15 So it will be done to you at Bethel because of your great wickedness.
At dawn the king of Israel will be completely destroyed.

Footnotes

  1. Hosea 10:1 Lit better
  2. Hosea 10:1 Lit they
  3. Hosea 10:2 Lit slippery; or divided
  4. Hosea 10:2 Lit He
  5. Hosea 10:4 Or Swearing falsely in making a covenant
  6. Hosea 10:5 As in some ancient versions; MT calves
  7. Hosea 10:5 Or who used to rejoice over
  8. Hosea 10:6 Another reading is the great king; or the contentious king
  9. Hosea 10:6 Lit receive shame
  10. Hosea 10:10 Or instruct
  11. Hosea 10:11 Or But I put a yoke on her lovely
  12. Hosea 10:11 I.e., pull a harrow, a farming device
  13. Hosea 10:12 Or loyalty
  14. Hosea 10:14 Lit shattered