1Israel is like a thriving vine that produces a lot of fruit. The more fruit it produced, the more altars they built. As their land became richer, they made their sacred stones more beautiful.
2They are half-hearted in their devotion. Now they will be found guilty. God will tear down their altars and smash their sacred stones.
3Surely now they will say, 'We have no king, because we don't respect Yahweh. And even if we had a king, what could he do for us?'
4They make promises and falsely swear when they make agreements. So judgment grows like poisonous weeds in the plowed fields.
5The people of Samaria will be terrified because of the calf idols of Beth Aven. Its people will mourn over it, and its priests who rejoiced over its glory will also mourn, because its splendor has been taken away.
6The idol itself will be carried to Assyria as a gift for a great king. Ephraim will experience shame, and Israel will be ashamed of its own plans.
7Samaria and its king will be swept away like a twig on the water.
8The high places of Aven, where Israel sinned, will also be destroyed. Thorns and thistles will grow on their altars. They will tell the mountains, 'Cover us!' and the hills, 'Fall on us!'
9'Israel, you have sinned ever since the days of Gibeah. They have remained in their sin there. The battle against the wicked people won't reach them in Gibeah.
10When I want to, I will punish them. Nations will gather against them when they are trapped by their two wicked acts.'
11Ephraim is like a trained young cow that likes to thresh grain, so I will put a yoke on her beautiful neck. I will make Ephraim work. Judah will plow and Jacob will break up the soil.
12Plant seeds of righteousness for yourselves, and you will harvest kindness. Break up your unplowed ground, because it is time to seek Yahweh until he comes and showers righteousness on you.
13You have plowed wickedness, harvested evil, and eaten the fruit of lies. This is because you trusted in your own ways and in your many strong warriors.
14Therefore, the sound of battle will rise among your people, and all your fortresses will be destroyed, just like Shalman destroyed Beth Arbel during battle, when mothers were smashed along with their children.
15This is what Bethel will do to you because of your extreme wickedness. At dawn, the king of Israel will be completely destroyed.