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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 was a trained heifer
    that loved to thresh,
    and I spared her fair neck,
but I will make Ephraim break the ground;
    Judah must plow;
    Jacob must harrow for himself.(A)
12 Sow for yourselves righteousness;
    reap steadfast love;
    break up your fallow ground,
for it is time to seek the Lord,
    that he may come and rain righteousness upon you.(B)

13 You have plowed wickedness;
    you have reaped injustice;
    you have eaten the fruit of lies.
Because you have trusted in your chariots,[a]
    in the multitude of your warriors,(C)

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Footnotes

  1. 10.13 Gk: Heb your way