1 I srael is a luxuriant vine that puts forth its fruit. According to the abundance of his fruit he has multiplied his altars; according to the goodness and prosperity of their land they have made goodly pillars or obelisks.

Israel is a luxuriant vine that produces his fruit. According to the abundance of his fruit he has multiplied his altars. As their land has prospered, they have adorned their sacred stones.

2 T heir heart is divided and deceitful; now shall they be found guilty and suffer punishment. The Lord will smite and break down their altars; He will destroy their pillars.

Their heart is divided. Now they will be found guilty. He will demolish their altars. He will destroy their sacred stones.

3 S urely now they shall say, We have no king because we fear not the Lord; and as for the king, what can he do for us?

Surely now they will say, “We have no king; for we don’t fear Yahweh; and the king, what can he do for us?”

4 T hey have spoken mere words of the lips, swearing falsely in making covenants; therefore judgment springs up like hemlock in the furrows of the field.

They make promises, swearing falsely in making covenants. Therefore judgment springs up like poisonous weeds in the furrows of the field.

5 T he inhabitants of Samaria shall be in terror for the calf of Beth-aven, for its people shall mourn over it and its priests who rejoiced over it for the glory of, because it is departed from it.

The inhabitants of Samaria will be in terror for the calves of Beth Aven; for its people will mourn over it, Along with its priests who rejoiced over it, for its glory, because it has departed from it.

6 s hall also be carried into Assyria as a tribute-gift to the fighting King Jareb; Ephraim shall be put to shame and Israel shall be ashamed of his own counsel.

It also will be carried to Assyria for a present to a great king. Ephraim will receive shame, and Israel will be ashamed of his own counsel.

7 A s for Samaria, her king and her whole monarchy are cut off like twigs or foam upon the water.

Samaria and her king float away, like a twig on the water.

8 T he 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!

The high places also of Aven, the sin of Israel, will be destroyed. The thorn and the thistle will come up on their altars. They will tell the mountains, “Cover us!” and the hills, “Fall on us!”

9 O Israel, you have sinned from the days of Gibeah! There stood that the battle against the sons of unrighteousness might not overtake and turn against them at Gibeah.

“Israel, you have sinned from the days of Gibeah. There they remained. The battle against the children of iniquity doesn’t overtake them in Gibeah.

10 W hen I please I will chastise them, and hostile peoples shall be gathered against them when I shall bind and yoke them for their two transgressions.

When it is my desire, I will chastise them; and the nations will be gathered against them, when they are bound to their two transgressions.

11 E phraim indeed is a heifer broken in and loving to tread out the grain, but I have spared the beauty of her fair neck. I will now set a rider upon Ephraim and make him to draw; Judah shall plow and Jacob shall break his clods.

Ephraim is a trained heifer that loves to thresh; so I will put a yoke on her beautiful neck. I will set a rider on Ephraim. Judah will plow. Jacob will break his clods.

12 S ow for yourselves according to righteousness (uprightness and right standing with God); reap according to mercy and loving-kindness. Break up your uncultivated ground, for it is time to seek the Lord, to inquire for and of Him, and to require His favor, till He comes and teaches you righteousness and rains His righteous gift of salvation upon you.

Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap according to kindness. Break up your fallow ground; for it is time to seek Yahweh, until he comes and rains righteousness on you.

13 Y ou have plowed and plotted wickedness, you have reaped the injustice, you have eaten the fruit of lies. Because you have trusted in your way and your chariots, in the multitude of your mighty men,

You have plowed wickedness. You have reaped iniquity. You have eaten the fruit of lies, for you trusted in your way, in the multitude of your mighty men.

14 T herefore shall a tumult arise against your people and all your fortresses shall be wasted and destroyed, as Shalmaneser wasted and destroyed Beth-arbel on the day of battle; the mother was dashed in pieces with her children.

Therefore a battle roar will arise among your people, and all your fortresses will be destroyed, as Shalman destroyed Beth Arbel in the day of battle. The mother was dashed in pieces with her children.

15 S o shall it be done to you at Bethel because of your great wickedness; at daybreak shall the king of Israel be utterly cut off.

So Bethel will do to you because of your great wickedness. At daybreak the king of Israel will be destroyed.