Hosea 10

Revised Geneva Translation

10 Israel is an empty vine. It has brought forth fruit for itself. According to the multitude of its fruit, it has increased its altars. According to the goodness of its land, it has made fair images.

² Their heart is divided. They shall now be found faulty. He shall break down their altars. He shall destroy their images.

³ For now they shall say, “We have no king because we did not fear the LORD. And what would a king do for us?”

⁴ They have spoken words, swearing falsely in making a covenant. Thus, judgment grows as wormwood in the furrows of the field.

⁵ The inhabitants of Samaria shall fear because of the calf of Beth Aven. For its people shall mourn over it, as well as its Chemarims, who cried over it because of its glory and because it has departed.

⁶ It shall also be brought to Assyria, as a present for King Jareb. Ephraim shall receive shame and Israel shall be ashamed of its own counsel.

⁷ Of Samaria, its king is destroyed, as the foam upon the water.

⁸ Also, the high places of Aven shall be destroyed, the sin of Israel. The thorn and the thistle shall grow upon their altars. And they shall say to the mountains, “Cover us,” and to the hills, “Fall upon 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 touch them.

¹⁰ “It is My desire that I should chastise them. And the people shall be gathered against them when they shall gather themselves in their two furrows.

¹¹ “And Ephraim is as a heifer that delights in threshing. But I will pass by her fair neck. I will make Ephraim ride. Judah shall plow and Jacob shall break his clods.”

¹² Sow for yourselves in righteousness. Reap after the measure of mercy. Break up your fallow ground. For it is time to seek the LORD until 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 trusted in your own ways and in the multitude of your strong men.

¹⁴ Therefore, a tumult shall arise among your people. And all your munitions shall be destroyed, as Shalman destroyed Beth Arbel in the days of battle. The mother, with the children, was dashed in pieces.

¹⁵ So shall Bethel do to you, because of your malicious wickedness. The king of Israel shall be destroyed in a morning.