Hosea

¹ Israel is a luxuriant vine; He produces fruit for himself. The more abundant his fruit, The more altars he abounded; The better his land, The better he made the sacred pillars.

² Now they must bear their guilt. Yahweh will break down their altars And destroy their sacred pillars.

³ For we do not fear Yahweh. As for the king, what can he do for us?”

⁴ With worthless oaths they cut covenants; And judgment flourishes like gall in the furrows of the field.

⁵ For the calf of Beth‑aven. Indeed, its people will mourn for it, And its idolatrous priests will cry out over it, Over its glory, since it has gone into exile from them.

⁶ As tribute to King Jareb; Ephraim will receive shame, And Israel will be ashamed of its own counsel.

⁷ Like a stick on the surface of the water.

⁸ Thorn and thistle will grow on their altars; Then they will say to the mountains, “Cover us!” And to the hills, “Fall on us!”

⁹ There they stand! Will not the battle against the sons of injustice overtake them in Gibeah?

¹⁰ And the peoples will be gathered against them When they are bound for their double guilt.

¹¹ And Ephraim is a trained heifer that loves to thresh, But I will come over her fair neck with a yoke; I will harness Ephraim; Judah will plow; Jacob will harrow for himself.

¹² Reap in accordance with lovingkindness; Break up your fallow ground, Indeed, it is time to seek Yahweh Until He comes and rains righteousness on you.

¹³ You have eaten the fruit of deception. Because you have trusted in your way, in your abundant warriors,

¹⁴ And all your fortifications will be destroyed, As Shalman destroyed Beth‑arbel on the day of battle, When mothers were dashed in pieces with their children.

¹⁵ At dawn the king of Israel will be completely ruined.