| Chapter 10 |
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 Bethaven:
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 an 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 Betharbel in the day of
battle: the mother was dashed in pieces upon her children. |
15 | So shall Bethel do unto you
because of your great wickedness: in a morning shall the king of Israel utterly
be cut off. |
