Hosea 10

1 Israel is an empty vine, he bringeth forth fruit to himself: according to the multitude of his fruit he hath multiplied the altars; according to the goodness of his land they have made beautiful images.

Israel is a leafy vine, its fruit has been suitable to him. According to the multitude of his fruit, he has multiplied altars; according to the fertility of his land, he has abounded with graven images.

2 Their heart is divided; now shall they be found faulty: he shall break down their altars, he shall spoil their images.

His heart has been divided, so now they will cross the divide. He will break apart their images; he will plunder their sanctuaries.

3 For now they shall say, We have no king, because we feared not the LORD; what then should a king do to us?

For now they will say, “We have no king. For we do 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 springeth up as hemlock in the furrows of the field.

You speak words about a useless vision, and you will strike a deal. And judgment will spring up like bitterness in the furrows of the field.

5 The inhabitants of Samaria shall fear because of the calves of Bethaven: for its people shall mourn over it, and its priests that rejoiced on it, for its glory, because it is departed from it.

The inhabitants of Samaria have worshipped the calf of Bethaven. For the keepers of its temple, who had exulted over it in its glory, and its people, have mourned over it because it migrated from there.

6 It shall also be carried to Assyria for a present to king Jareb: Ephraim shall receive shame, and Israel shall be ashamed of his own counsel.

If, indeed, it also has been offered to Assur, as a gift for the Avenging king, confusion will seize Ephraim, and Israel will be confounded by his own will.

7 As for Samaria, her king is cut off as the foam upon the water.

Samaria has required her king to pass by, like foam on the face of 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.

And the heights of the idol, the sin of Israel, will be utterly destroyed. The burr and the thistle will rise up over their altars. And they will 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.

From the days of Gibeah, Israel has sinned; in this, they remained firm. The battle in Gibeah against the sons of iniquity will not take hold of 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.

According to my desire, I will correct them. And the peoples will be gathered together over them, while they are chastised for their two iniquities.

11 And Ephraim is as an heifer that is taught, and loveth to tread out the grain; but I passed over upon her fair neck: I will make Ephraim to ride; Judah shall plow, and Jacob shall break his clods.

Ephraim is a heifer that has been taught to love treading out the grain, but I passed over the beauty of her neck. I will rise over Ephraim. Judah will plough; Jacob will break up the soil for himself.

12 Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he shall come and rain righteousness upon you.

Sow for yourselves in justice, and harvest in the mouth of mercy; renew your fallow land. But the time when you will seek the Lord is the time when he will arrive who will teach you justice.

13 Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit of lies: because thou hast trusted in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men.

You have ploughed impiety; you have harvested iniquity; you have eaten the fruit of lies. For you had confidence in your ways, in the multitude of your good fortunes.

14 Therefore shall a tumult arise among thy people, and all thy fortresses shall be plundered, as Shalman plundered Betharbel in the day of battle: the mother was dashed in pieces upon her children.

A tumult will arise among your people. And all your fortifications will be laid waste, just as Salman was destroyed by the house of him that judged Baal on the day of the battle, the mother having been crushed against her sons.

15 So shall Bethel do to you because of your great wickedness: in a morning shall the king of Israel be utterly cut off.

So has Bethel done to you, before the face of your malicious wickedness.