1    Israel is an empty vine, he brings forth fruit unto himself: according to the multitude of his fruit he has increased the altars; according to the goodness of his land they have made goodly images.
2    Their heart is divided; now shall they be found guilty: he shall break down their altars, he shall ruin their images.
3   For now they shall say, We have no king, because we feared not the LORD; what then could a king do for us?
4   They have spoken words, swearing falsely in making  a  covenant:  thus  judgment  springs  up like hemlock in the furrows of the field.
5   The  inhabitants  of  Samaria  shall  fear because of the calves of Bethaven: for its people shall  mourn  over  it,  and its  idolatrous  priests shall wail over it, for its glory has departed from it.
6   It shall be also carried unto Assyria for a present to king Jareb: Ephraim shall receive shame, and Israel shall be ashamed of his own counsel.
7   As for Samaria, her king is cut off as the foam upon the water.
8   The 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.
9   O Israel, you have sinned from the days of Gibeah: there they stood: the battle in Gibeah against the children of iniquity did not overtake them.
10   It is in my desire that I should chastise them; and the people shall be gathered against them, when they shall be bound for their two transgressions.
11   And Ephraim is as a heifer that is trained, and loves to tread out the grain; but I harnessed her fair neck: I will make Ephraim to pull a plow; Judah  shall  plow,  and  Jacob  must  break  his clods.
12   Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he comes and rains righteousness upon you.
13   You have plowed wickedness, you have reaped iniquity; you have eaten the fruit of lies: because  you  did  trust  in your  way,  in  the multitude of your mighty men.
14   Therefore shall a tumult arise among your people,   and   all   your   fortresses   shall   be destroyed,  as  Shalman destroyed Betharbel in the  day  of  battle:  the  mother  was  dashed  in pieces upon her children.
15   So shall Bethel do unto you because of your great wickedness: in a morning shall the king of Israel utterly be cut off.