1Israel is a luxuriant vine; he produces fruit for himself. According to the abundance of his fruit he multiplied altars; according to the goodness of his land they made goodly pillars.
2Their heart is divided; now they shall bear guilt. He will break the neck of their altars, he will destroy their pillars.
3For now they shall say, "We have no king, for we did not fear YHWH; and the king—what can he do for us?"
4They have spoken words, swearing falsely, cutting a covenant (berit); and judgment (mishpat) springs up like hemlock in the furrows of the field.
5For the calves of Beth-aven the inhabitant of Samaria is in dread; for its people mourn over it, and its idol-priests over it tremble—over its glory, because it has departed from it.
6It also shall be carried to Assyria as a present to king Jareb; Ephraim shall receive shame, and Israel shall be ashamed of his counsel.
7Cut off is Samaria—her king like a chip upon the face of the waters.
8And the high places of Aven, the sin of Israel, shall be destroyed; thorn and thistle shall come up on their altars; and they shall say to the mountains, "Cover us!" and to the hills, "Fall on us!"
9From the days of Gibeah you have sinned, O Israel; there they stood; the battle against the sons of injustice did not overtake them in Gibeah.
10In my desire I will chastise them; and peoples shall be gathered against them when they are bound for their two iniquities.
11And Ephraim is a trained heifer that loves to thresh; but I passed over upon the goodness of her neck; I will make Ephraim ride; Judah shall plow; Jacob shall harrow for him.
12Sow for yourselves in righteousness, reap according to lovingkindness; break up for yourselves fallow ground; for it is time to seek YHWH, until he comes and rains righteousness upon you.
13You have plowed wickedness, you have reaped injustice, you have eaten the fruit of lies; because you trusted in your way, in the multitude of your mighty men.
14And a tumult shall rise among your people, and all your fortresses shall be devastated, as Shalman devastated Beth-arbel in the day of battle—the mother dashed to pieces upon her sons.
15So has Bethel done to you, because of the evil of your evil; at dawn the king of Israel is utterly cut off.