Retribution for Israel’s Sin 1 ULT Israel{ is} an emptying vine; he places fruit for himself. According to the abundance of his fruit, he made abundant altars. According to the goodness of his land, they made good pillars. BSB BSB: Israel was a luxuriant vine, yielding fruit for himself. The more his fruit increased, the more he increased the altars. The better his land produced, the better he made the sacred pillars.
2 ULT Their heart is slippery; now they will bear guilt. He, he will break the neck of their altars; he will destroy their pillars. BSB BSB: Their hearts are devious; now they must bear their guilt. The LORD will break down their altars and demolish their sacred pillars.
3 ULT For now they will say,“There is no king for us, for we did not fear Yahweh, and the king— what could he do for us?” BSB BSB: Surely now they will say, “We have no king, for we do not revere the LORD. What can a king do for us?”
4 ULT They have spoken words, swearing oaths of worthlessness, cutting a covenant, so judgment sprouts like a poisonous weed on the furrows of a field. BSB BSB: They speak mere words; with false oaths they make covenants. So judgment springs up like poisonous weeds in the furrows of a field.
5 ULT The inhabitant of Samaria will be afraid for the calves of Beth Aven, for its people will mourn over it, and its idolatrous priests will shout over it, over its glory, for it has departed from it. BSB BSB: The people of Samaria will fear for the calf of Beth-aven. Indeed, its people will mourn over it with its idolatrous priests—those who rejoiced in its glory—for it has been taken from them into exile.
6 ULT Even it will be carried to Assyria, a tribute to the king of Yareb. Ephraim will receive shame, and Israel will be ashamed of his counsel. BSB BSB: Yes, it will be carried to Assyria as tribute to the great king. Ephraim will be seized with shame; Israel will be ashamed of its wooden idols.
7 ULT Samaria— its king will be ended, like a splinter on the face of the waters. BSB BSB: Samaria will be carried off with her king like a twig on the surface of the water.
8 ULT And the high places of Aven will be destroyed, the sin of Israel. Thorn and thistle will grow up on their altars, and they will say to the mountains,“Cover us!” and to the hills,“Fall on us!” BSB BSB: The high places of Aven will be destroyed—it is the sin of Israel; thorns and thistles will overgrow their altars. Then they will say to the mountains, “Cover us!” and to the hills, “Fall on us!”
9 ULT From the days of Gibeah you have sinned, Israel. There they have stood. Will not war overtake them in Gibeah, against the sons of injustice? BSB BSB: Since the days of Gibeah you have sinned, O Israel, and there you have remained. Did not the battle in Gibeah overtake the sons of iniquity?
10 ULT When it is my desire, I will chastise them, and peoples will be gathered against them when they are bound to their two eyes. BSB BSB: I will chasten them when I please; nations will be gathered against them to put them in bondage for their double transgression.
11 ULT And Ephraim{ is} a trained heifer loving to thresh, but I, I have passed over upon the goodness of her neck. I will harness Ephraim; Judah will plow; Jacob will harrow by himself. BSB BSB: Ephraim is a well-trained heifer that loves to thresh; but I will place a yoke on her fair neck. I will harness Ephraim, Judah will plow, and Jacob will break the hard ground.
12 ULT Sow for yourselves for righteousness; reap to the mouth of covenant faithfulness. Till for yourselves tillage, and{ it is} time to seek Yahweh, until he comes and rains righteousness on you. BSB BSB: Sow for yourselves righteousness and reap the fruit of loving devotion; break up your unplowed ground. For it is time to seek the LORD until He comes and sends righteousness upon you like rain.
13 ULT You have plowed wickedness; you have reaped injustice. You have eaten the fruit of deception, for you trusted in your way, in the multitude of your warriors. BSB BSB: You have plowed wickedness and reaped injustice; you have eaten the fruit of lies. Because you have trusted in your own way and in the multitude of your mighty men,
14 ULT And a tumult will arise among your people, and all your fortresses will be destroyed, as Shalman destroyed Beth Arbel on the day of battle— a mother was dashed to pieces upon{ her} sons. BSB BSB: the roar of battle will rise against your people, so that all your fortresses will be demolished as Shalman devastated Beth-arbel in the day of battle, when mothers were dashed to pieces along with their children.
15 ULT Thus he will do to you, Bethel, from the face of the evil of your evil. At the dawn, the king of Israel being destroyed, will be destroyed. BSB BSB: Thus it will be done to you, O Bethel, because of your great wickedness. When the day dawns, the king of Israel will be utterly cut off.