Hosea 10:1-11:11

New International Version

10 Israel was a spreading vine;^(A)
    he brought forth fruit for himself.
As his fruit increased,
    he built more altars;^(B)
as his land prospered,^(C)
    he adorned his sacred stones.^(D)
2 Their heart is deceitful,^(E)
    and now they must bear their guilt.^(F)
The Lord will demolish their altars^(G)
    and destroy their sacred stones.^(H)

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?”
⁴ They make many promises,
    take false oaths^(I)
    and make agreements;^(J)
therefore lawsuits spring up
    like poisonous weeds^(K) in a plowed field.
⁵ The people who live in Samaria fear
    for the calf-idol^(L) of Beth Aven.^[a](M)
Its people will mourn over it,
    and so will its idolatrous priests,^(N)
those who had rejoiced over its splendor,
    because it is taken from them into exile.^(O)
6 It will be carried to Assyria^(P)
    as tribute^(Q) for the great king.^(R)
Ephraim will be disgraced;^(S)
    Israel will be ashamed^(T) of its foreign alliances.
⁷ Samaria’s king will be destroyed,^(U)
    swept away like a twig on the surface of the waters.
⁸ The high places^(V) of wickedness^[b](W) will be destroyed—
    it is the sin of Israel.
Thorns^(X) and thistles will grow up
    and cover their altars.^(Y)
Then they will say to the mountains, “Cover us!”^(Z)
    and to the hills, “Fall on us!”^(AA)

⁹ “Since the days of Gibeah,^(AB) you have sinned,^(AC) Israel,
    and there you have remained.^[c]
Will not war again overtake
    the evildoers in Gibeah?
¹⁰ When I please, I will punish^(AD) them;
    nations will be gathered against them
    to put them in bonds for their double sin.
¹¹ Ephraim is a trained heifer
    that loves to thresh;
so I will put a yoke^(AE)
    on her fair neck.
I will drive Ephraim,
    Judah must plow,
    and Jacob must break up the ground.
¹² Sow^(AF) righteousness^(AG) for yourselves,
    reap the fruit of unfailing love,
and break up your unplowed ground;^(AH)
    for it is time to seek^(AI) the Lord,
until he comes
    and showers his righteousness^(AJ) on you.
¹³ But you have planted wickedness,
    you have reaped evil,^(AK)
    you have eaten the fruit of deception.^(AL)
Because you have depended on your own strength
    and on your many warriors,^(AM)
14 the roar of battle will rise against your people,
    so that all your fortresses will be devastated^(AN)—
as Shalman^(AO) devastated Beth Arbel on the day of battle,
    when mothers were dashed to the ground with their children.^(AP)
15 So will it happen to you, Bethel,
    because your wickedness is great.
When that day dawns,
    the king of Israel will be completely destroyed.^(AQ)

⁵ “Will they not return to Egypt^(BC)
    and will not Assyria^(BD) rule over them
    because they refuse to repent?^(BE)
6 A sword^(BF) will flash in their cities;
    it will devour^(BG) their false prophets
    and put an end to their plans.
⁷ My people are determined to turn^(BH) from me.^(BI)
    Even though they call me God Most High,
    I will by no means exalt them.

⁸ “How can I give you up,^(BJ) Ephraim?^(BK)
    How can I hand you over, Israel?
How can I treat you like Admah?
    How can I make you like Zeboyim?^(BL)
My heart is changed within me;
    all my compassion^(BM) is aroused.^(BN)
9 I will not carry out my fierce anger,^(BO)
    nor will I devastate^(BP) Ephraim again.
For I am God, and not a man^(BQ)—
    the Holy One^(BR) among you.
    I will not come against their cities.
¹⁰ They will follow the Lord;
    he will roar^(BS) like a lion.^(BT)
When he roars,
    his children will come trembling^(BU) from the west.^(BV)
11 They will come from Egypt,
    trembling like sparrows,
    from Assyria,^(BW) fluttering like doves.^(BX)
I will settle them in their homes,”^(BY)
    declares the Lord.