Hosea 10

Retribution for Israel’s Sin

1Israel is a luxuriant 1vine; He produces fruit for himself. The more his fruit, The more altars he 2made; The 3richer his land, The better 4he made the 5memorial stones.2Their heart is 67deceitful; Now they must suffer for their 8guilt. 9The Lord will 10break down their altars And destroy their memorial stones.

3Certainly now they will say, “We have 11no king, For we do not revere the Lord. As for the king, what can he do for us?”4They speak mere words, 12With 13worthless oaths they make covenants; And 14judgment sprouts like poisonous weeds in the furrows of the field.5The inhabitants of Samaria will fear For the 1516calf of 17Beth-aven. Indeed, its people will mourn for it, And its 18idolatrous priests 19will cry out over it, Over its 20glory, since it has left it.6The thing itself will be brought to 21Assyria As a gift of tribute to 2223King Jareb; Ephraim will 24be 25seized with shame, And Israel will be ashamed of its 26own plan.7Samaria will be 27destroyed with her king, Like a twig on the surface of the water.8Also the 28high places of Aven, the 29sin of Israel, will be destroyed; 30Thorns and thistles will grow on their altars; Then they will 31say to the mountains, “Cover us!” And to the hills, “Fall on us!”9Since the days of Gibeah you have sinned, Israel; There they stand! Will the battle against the sons of injustice not overtake them in Gibeah?10When it is My 32desire, I will 3334discipline them; And 35the peoples will be gathered against them When they are bound for their double guilt.

11Ephraim is a trained 36heifer that loves to thresh, 37And I 38passed over her lovely neck; I will harness Ephraim, Judah will plow, Jacob will 39harrow for himself.1240Sow for yourselves, with a view to righteousness; Harvest in accordance with 41kindness. 42Break up your uncultivated ground, For it is time to 43seek the Lord Until He 44comes and 45rains righteousness on you.13You have 46plowed wickedness, you have harvested injustice, You have eaten the fruit of 47lies. Because you have trusted in your way, in your 48many warriors,14An uproar will arise among your people, And all your 49fortresses will be destroyed, As Shalman destroyed Beth-arbel on the day of battle, When 50mothers were 51slaughtered with their children.15So it will be done to you at Bethel because of your great wickedness. At dawn the king of Israel will be completely destroyed.