Hosea 10:1-8 ▼

1 |Israel, the overgrown vine, bears fruit like itself; the more fruitful they become, the more altars they build. The better the land, the more ornate the stone idols.

2 Their hearts are divided; from now on they are to be found guilty. God will tear down their altars, he will destroy their stone idols.

3 From now on they will say, 'We have no king, because we did not fear the LORD— and what would a king do for us?'

4 Their word is falsely given as they make their agreements; so judgment springs up like poisonous weeds in the furrows of a field.

5 |The residents of Samaria will be terrified because of the cows of Beth-aven. Its people will mourn over Beth-aven, along with the priests who will mourn its glory, because that glory has departed.

6 Indeed, that glory will be carried to Assyria— it will become a present for an avenging king. Ephraim will be disgraced, and Israel will become ashamed of its decision.

7 Samaria's king will float away like driftwood on the surface of water.

8 Destroyed will be the high places of Aven, that are the sin of Israel. Both thorn and thistle will grow up over their altars. They will call out to the mountains, 'Cover us!' and to the hills, 'Fall on us!'