Chapter 10
Israel is an empty vine, he bringeth forth fruit unto
himself: according to the multitude of his fruit he hath increased the
altars; according to the goodness of his land they have made goodly images.
2Their heart is divided; now shall they be found faulty: he shall break
down their altars, he shall spoil their images.
3For now they shall say,
We have no king, because we feared not the Lord; what then should a king do
to us?
4They have spoken words, swearing falsely in making a covenant:
thus judgment springeth up as hemlock in the furrows of the field.
5The
inhabitants of Samaria shall fear because of the calves of Bethaven: for the
people thereof shall mourn over it, and the priests thereof that
rejoiced on it, for the glory thereof, because it is departed from it.
6It shall be also carried unto Assyria for a present to king
Jareb: Ephraim shall receive shame, and Israel shall be ashamed of his own
counsel.
7As for Samaria, her king is cut off as the foam upon
the water.
8The high places also of Aven, the sin of Israel, shall be
destroyed: the thorn and the thistle shall come up on their altars; and they
shall say to the mountains, Cover us; and to the hills, Fall on us.
9O
Israel, thou hast sinned from the days of Gibeah: there they stood: the
battle in Gibeah against the children of iniquity did not overtake them.
10It is in my desire that I should chastise them; and the people
shall be gathered against them, when they shall bind themselves in their two
furrows.
11And Ephraim is as an heifer that is taught,
and loveth to tread out the corn; but I passed over upon her
fair neck: I will make Ephraim to ride; Judah shall plow, and Jacob
shall break his clods.
12Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in
mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the Lord,
till he come and rain righteousness upon you.
13Ye have plowed
wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit of lies: because
thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men.
14Therefore shall a tumult arise among thy people, and all thy fortresses
shall be spoiled, as Shalman spoiled Beth- arbel in the day of battle: the
mother was dashed in pieces upon her children.
15So shall Bethel
do unto you because of your great wickedness: in a morning shall the king of
Israel utterly be cut off.
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