1 I srael is an unpruned vine, he bringeth forth fruit unto himself: according to the abundance of his fruit he hath multiplied altars; according to the goodness of his land they have made goodly statues.

Israel is a spreading vine full of fruit. The more fruit he had, the more altars he made. As his land became richer, he made his pillars for worship better.

2 T heir heart is divided; now shall they be found guilty: he will break down their altars, he will destroy their statues.

Their heart is not faithful, and now they must suffer for their sins. The Lord will break down their altars and destroy their pillars for worship.

3 F or now they will say, We have no king, for we feared not Jehovah; and a king, what can he do for us?

Then they will say, “We have no king because we do not fear the Lord. And what could a king do for us?”

4 T hey speak words, swearing falsely in making a covenant; therefore shall judgment spring up as hemlock in the furrows of the fields.

They speak empty words and make false promises, so punishment grows like weeds of poison in a plowed field.

5 T he inhabitants of Samaria shall fear because of the calf of Beth-aven; for the people thereof shall mourn over it, and the idolatrous priests thereof shall tremble for it, for its glory, because it is departed from it.

The people of Samaria will be afraid for the calf of Beth-aven. Its people will have sorrow for it. Its religious leaders who worship false gods will cry over it in a loud voice. They will cry because its greatness has gone.

6 Y ea, it shall be carried unto Assyria a present for king Jareb: Ephraim shall be seized with shame, and Israel shall be ashamed of his own counsel.

The thing itself will be carried to Assyria and given to King Jareb. Ephraim will be put to shame, and Israel will be ashamed of its false god.

7 A s for Samaria her king is cut off as chips upon the face of the waters.

Samaria and its king will be lost like a piece of wood on the water.

8 A nd the high places of Aven, the sin of Israel, shall be destroyed: the thorn and the thistle shall come up upon their altars; and they shall say to the mountains, Cover us! and to the hills, Fall on us!

The high places of Aven, the sin of Israel, will be destroyed. Thorns and thistles will grow on their altars. Then they will say to the mountains, “Cover us!” and to the hills, “Fall on us!”

9 F rom the days of Gibeah hast thou sinned, O Israel: there they stood: the battle in Gibeah against the children of iniquity did not overtake them.

“You have sinned since the days of Gibeah, O Israel, and there you have stayed. Will not the sinners be destroyed in battle in Gibeah?

10 A t my pleasure will I chastise them; and the peoples shall be assembled against them, when they are bound for their two iniquities.

I will punish them when I please. And the nations will be gathered against them when they are punished for their many sins.

11 A nd Ephraim is a trained heifer, that loveth to tread out; I have passed over upon her fair neck: I will make Ephraim to draw; Judah shall plough, Jacob shall break his clods.

“Ephraim is a well-taught young cow that loves to crush the grain. But I will put a load on her beautiful neck. I will drive Ephraim. Judah must plow. And Jacob must break up the ground.

12 S ow to yourselves in righteousness, reap according to mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek Jehovah, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.

Plant what is right and good for yourselves. Gather the fruit of lasting love. Break up your ground that has not been plowed. For it is time to look for the Lord, until He comes and pours His saving power on you.

13 Y e have ploughed wickedness, reaped iniquity, eaten the fruit of lies; for thou didst confide in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men.

You have plowed wrong-doing and have gathered sin. You have eaten the fruit of lies. You have trusted in your own strength and in your many soldiers.

14 A nd a tumult shall arise among thy peoples, and all thy fortresses shall be spoiled, as Shalman spoiled Beth-arbel in the day of battle: the mother was dashed in pieces with the children.

The noise of battle will rise up among your people. All your strong cities will be destroyed, as Shalman destroyed Beth-arbel on the day of battle. Mothers were crushed in pieces with their children.

15 S o shall Bethel do unto you because of the wickedness of your wickedness: at day-break shall the king of Israel utterly be cut off.

This will be done to you at Bethel because of your many sins. When the day begins, the king of Israel will be destroyed.