Hosea 10:1-8 ▼

1 “Israel [is] an empty vine, || He makes fruit like to himself, || According to the abundance of his fruit, || He has multiplied for the altars, || According to the goodness of his land, || They have made good standing-pillars.

2 Their heart has been divided, now they are guilty, || He breaks down their altars, || He destroys their standing-pillars.

3 For now they say: We have no king, || Because we have not feared YHWH, || And the king—what does he do for us?

4 They have spoken words, || To swear falsehood in making a covenant, || And flourished as a poisonous herb has judgment, on the furrows of a field.

5 For the inhabitants of Samaria fear the calves of Beth-Aven, || Surely its people have mourned on account of it, || And its priests leap about on account of it, || Because of its glory, for it has removed from it,

6 Also, it is carried to Asshur, a present to a warlike king, || Ephraim receives shame, || And Israel is ashamed of its own counsel.

7 Samaria is cut off! Its king [is] as wrath on the face of the waters.

8 And high places of Aven have been destroyed, the sin of Israel. Thorn and bramble go up on their altars, || And they have said to hills, Cover us, || And to heights, Fall on us.