1 ¶ Israel is an empty vine. Shall he bring forth fruit unto himself? According to the multiplication of his fruit he has multiplied altars; according to the goodness of his land they have bettered their statues.

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

3 F or now they shall say, We have no king, because we did not fear the LORD; what then should a king do to us?

4 T hey have spoken words, swearing falsely in making a covenant: thus judgment shall spring up as hemlock in the furrows of the field.

5 T he inhabitants of Samaria shall fear because of the calves of Bethaven: for the people thereof shall mourn because of the calf, and the religious persons thereof that rejoiced on it, for the glory thereof, which shall be made to vanish away.

6 I t shall be also carried unto Assyria for a present to King Jareb: Ephraim shall be ashamed, and Israel shall be confused at his own counsel.

7 A s for Samaria, her king is cut off as the foam upon the surface of the waters.

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

9 ¶ O Israel, thou hast sinned from the days of Gibeah; there they stood: the battle in Gibeah against the sons of iniquity did not overtake them.

10 A nd I shall chastise them as I desire; and the peoples shall gather themselves over them, when they shall be bound in their two furrows.

11 E phraim is a heifer that is taught and loves to tread out the wheat; but I shall pass over upon her fair neck: I will make Ephraim to draw; Judah shall plow, and Jacob shall break his clods.

12 S ow yourselves unto righteousness, reap yourselves unto mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is the time to seek the LORD until he comes and teaches you righteousness.

13 Y e have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye shall eat the fruit of lies because thou didst trust in thy way and in the multitude of thy mighty men.

14 T herefore, in thy peoples a tumult shall arise, and all thy fortresses shall be destroyed, as Shalman destroyed Betharbel in the day of battle: the mother was dashed in pieces upon her sons.

15 S o shall Bethel do unto you because of your great wickedness; in the morning the king of Israel shall utterly be cut off.