10:1 Israel was a spreading vine; he brought forth fruit for himself. As his fruit increased, he built more altars; as his land prospered, he adorned his sacred stones.
10:2 Their heart is deceitful, and now they must bear their guilt. The LORD will demolish their altars and destroy their sacred stones.
10:3 Then they will say, “We have no king because we did not revere the LORD. But even if we had a king, what could he do for us?”
10:4 They make many promises, take false oaths and make agreements; therefore lawsuits spring up like poisonous weeds in a plowed field.
10:5 The people who live in Samaria fear for the calf-idol of Beth Aven. Its people will mourn over it, and so will its idolatrous priests, those who had rejoiced over its splendor, because it is taken from them into exile.
10:6 It will be carried to Assyria as tribute for the great king. Ephraim will be disgraced; Israel will be ashamed of its wooden idols.
10:7 Samaria and its king will float away like a twig on the surface of the waters.
10:8 The high places of wickedness will be destroyed–it is the sin of Israel. Thorns and thistles will grow up and cover their altars. Then they will say to the mountains, “Cover us!” and to the hills, “Fall on us!”
10:9 “Since the days of Gibeah, you have sinned, O Israel, and there you have remained. Did not war overtake the evildoers in Gibeah?
10:10 When I please, I will punish them; nations will be gathered against them to put them in bonds for their double sin.
10:11 Ephraim is a trained heifer that loves to thresh; so I will put a yoke on her fair neck. I will drive Ephraim, Judah must plow, and Jacob must break up the ground.
10:12 Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the LORD, until he comes and showers righteousness on you.
10:13 But you have planted wickedness, you have reaped evil, you have eaten the fruit of deception. Because you have depended on your own strength and on your many warriors,
10:14 the roar of battle will rise against your people, so that all your fortresses will be devastated–as Shalman devastated Beth Arbel on the day of battle, when mothers were dashed to the ground with their children.
10:15 Thus will it happen to you, O Bethel, because your wickedness is great. When that day dawns, the king of Israel will be completely destroyed.
10:1 Israel is a luxuriant vine; / He brings forth fruit for himself. / According to the abundance of his fruit / He has multiplied altars; / According to the goodness of their land / They have made pillars well.
10:2 Their heart is divided; / Now they will be found guilty. / He Himself will break down their altars; / He will destroy their pillars.
10:3 For now they will say, / We have no king, / For we did not fear Jehovah; / And the king, what can he do for us?
10:4 They speak mere words, / Swearing falsely / While making a covenant; / And judgment sprouts forth like poisonous weeds / In the furrows of the field.
10:5 The inhabitants of Samaria will fear / For the calves of Beth-aven; / For its people will mourn over it, / And its idol priests will tremble for it, / For its glory, / Because it has departed from it.
10:6 Indeed it will be carried to Assyria: / A present to the warrior king. / Ephraim will be taken in shame, / And Israel will be ashamed of his own counsel.
10:7 Samaria will be cut off with her king / And will be like twigs on the surface of the water.
10:8 And the high places of Aven, the sin of Israel, / Will be destroyed. / The thorn and the thistle will come up / Upon their altars; / And they will say to the mountains, Cover us! / And to the hills, Fall on us!
10:9 Since the days of Gibeah / You have sinned, O Israel; / There they have stood. / Did not the battle / Overtake them in Gibeah / Because of the children of iniquity?
10:10 When I so desire, I will chastise them; / And the peoples will be gathered against them, / When they are bound for their double iniquity.
10:11 And Ephraim is a trained heifer / That loves to tread the grain; / But I have passed the yoke / Over her fair neck: / I will make Ephraim draw the plow; / Judah will plow; / Jacob will break his clods.
10:12 Sow unto righteousness for yourselves; / Reap according to lovingkindness; / Break up your fallow ground; / For it is time to seek Jehovah / Until He comes and rains / Righteousness on you.
10:13 You have plowed wickedness; / You have reaped injustice; / You have eaten the fruit of lying. / For you have trusted in your way, / In the multitude of your mighty men.
10:14 And a tumult will arise among your peoples; / And all your fortresses will be devastated, / As Shalman devastated Beth-arbel / In the day of battle: / The mother was dashed in pieces with the children.
10:15 Thus Bethel will cause this to happen to you / Because of your great evil: / At dawn the king of Israel / Will be utterly cut off.