The Vine and the Calf

10 Israel is a lush[a] vine;(A)
it yields fruit for itself.
The more his fruit increased,
the more he increased the altars.(B)
The better his land produced,
the better they made the sacred pillars.(C)
Their hearts are devious;[b](D)
now they must bear their guilt.(E)
The Lord will break down their altars(F)
and demolish their sacred pillars.

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Footnotes

  1. 10:1 Or ravaged
  2. 10:2 Or divided

Israel is Guilty of Fertility Cult Worship

10 Israel was a fertile vine
that yielded fruit.
As his fruit multiplied,
he multiplied altars to Baal.[a]
As his land prospered,
they adorned the fertility pillars.
Their hearts are slipping;
soon they will be punished for their guilt.
The Lord[b] will break their altars;
he will completely destroy their fertility pillars.

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Footnotes

  1. Hosea 10:1 tn The phrase “to Baal” does not appear in the Hebrew text here but is implied; it is supplied in the translation for the sake of clarity. Cf. NCV “altars for idols,” NLT “altars of their foreign gods.”
  2. Hosea 10:2 tn Heb “he”; the referent (the Lord) has been specified in the translation for clarity.