1 Israel is an empty vine, he bringeth forth fruit unto himself:

According to the multitude of his fruit he hath 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 faulty:

He shall break down their altars, he shall spoil their images.

3 For now they shall say, We have no king,

Because we feared not the Lord;

What then should a king do to us?

4 They have spoken words, swearing falsely in making a covenant:

Thus judgment springeth up as hemlock in the furrows of the field.

5 The inhabitants of Samaria shall fear because of the calves of Beth-aven:

For the people thereof shall mourn over it,

And the priests thereof that rejoiced on it,

For the glory thereof, because it is 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, thou hast 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 bind themselves in their two furrows.

11 And Ephraim is as a heifer that is taught, and loveth to tread out the corn;

But I passed over upon her fair neck:

I will make Ephraim to ride;

Judah shall plow,

And Jacob shall 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 come and rain righteousness upon you.

13 Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity;

Ye have eaten the fruit of lies:

Because thou didst trust in thy way,

In the multitude of thy mighty men.

14 Therefore shall a tumult arise among thy people,

And all thy fortresses shall be spoiled,

As Shalman spoiled Beth-arbel in the day of battle:

The mother was dashed in pieces upon her children.

15 So shall Beth-el do unto you because of your great wickedness;

In a morning shall the king of Israel utterly be cut off.