Yisra᾽el is an emptied vine; how should he bring forth fruit to himself? as his fruit increased, so has he multiplied his altars; the more goodly was his land, so did he improve his pillars.

Their heart is divided; now they shall be found guilty: he shall break down their altars, he shall spoil their pillars.

For now they shall say, We have no king, because we did not fear the Lord; what then should a king do for us?

They have spoken mere words; with empty oaths they make a covenant: this judgment springs up like hemlock in the furrows of the field.

The inhabitants of Shomeron shall fear because of the calves of Bet-aven: for its people shall mourn over it, and its priests that rejoiced on it, for its glory, because it is departed from it.

It shall be also carried to Ashshur for a present to king Yarev: Efrayim shall receive shame, and Yisra᾽el shall be ashamed of his own counsel.

As for Shomeron, her king is cut off like the foam on the surface of water.

The high places also of Aven, the sin of Yisra᾽el, 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.

O Yisra᾽el, thou hast sinned more than in the days of Giv῾a: there they have remained: shall not war overtake them, those children of iniquity, as in Giv῾a?

When I so desire, I will chastise them; and the peoples shall be gathered against them, when they are harnessed for labour in their two furrows.

And Efrayim is like a heifer well taught, that loves to tread out the corn; but I passed over her fair neck: I will make Efrayim to ride; Yehuda shall plough, and Ya῾aqov shall break his clods.

Sow for yourselves by righteousness, reap by the scale of love; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the Lord, till he comes and rains righteousness upon you.

You have ploughed wickedness, you have reaped iniquity; you have eaten the fruit of lies: because thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men.

Therefore shall a tumult arise among thy peoples, and all thy fortresses shall be spoiled, as Shalman spoiled Bet-arbel in the day of battle: the mother was dashed in pieces upon her children.

So has Bet-el done to you because of your great wickedness: at day break was the king of Yisra᾽el utterly cut off.