Israel’s Sin and Captivity
Israel aempties his vine;
He brings forth fruit for himself.
According to the multitude of his fruit
bHe has increased the altars;
According to the bounty of his land
They have embellished his sacred pillars.
2 Their heart is adivided;
Now they are held guilty.
He will break down their altars;
He will ruin their sacred pillars.
3 For now they say,
“We have no king,
Because we did not fear the Lord.
And as for a king, what would he do for us?”
4 They have spoken words,
Swearing falsely in making a covenant.
Thus judgment springs up alike hemlock in the furrows of the field.
5 The inhabitants of Samaria fear
Because of the acalf of Beth Aven.
For its people mourn for it,
And its priests shriek for it—
Because its bglory has departed from it.
6 The idol also shall be carried to Assyria
As a present for King aJareb.
Ephraim shall receive shame,
And Israel shall be ashamed of his own counsel.
7 As for Samaria, her king is cut off
Like a twig on the water.
8 Also the ahigh places of Aven, bthe sin of Israel,
Shall be destroyed.
The thorn and thistle shall grow on their altars;
cThey shall say to the mountains, “Cover us!”
And to the hills, “Fall on us!”
9 “O Israel, you have sinned from the days of aGibeah;
There they stood.
The bbattle in Gibeah against the children of iniquity
Did not overtake them.
10 When it is My desire, I will chasten them.
aPeoples shall be gathered against them
When I bind them for their two transgressions.
11 Ephraim is aa trained heifer
That loves to thresh grain;
But I harnessed her fair neck,
I will make Ephraim pull a plow.
Judah shall plow;
Jacob shall break his clods.”
12 Sow for yourselves righteousness;
Reap in mercy;
aBreak up your fallow ground,
For it is time to seek the Lord,
Till He bcomes and rains righteousness on you.
13 aYou have plowed wickedness;
You have reaped iniquity.
You have eaten the fruit of lies,
Because you trusted in your own way,
In the multitude of your mighty men.
14 Therefore tumult shall arise among your people,
And all your fortresses shall be plundered
As Shalman plundered Beth Arbel in the day of battle—
A mother dashed in pieces upon her children.
15 Thus it shall be done to you, O Bethel,
Because of your great wickedness.
At dawn the king of Israel
Shall be cut off utterly.
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson.
All rights reserved.