Hosea 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 Beth–a’ven: 1 Kgs. 12.28, 29 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: E’phra-im 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. Lk. 23.30 · Rev. 6.16
9	¶ O Israel, thou hast sinned from the days of Gib’e-ah: Judg. 19.1-30 there they stood: the battle in Gib’e-ah 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 E’phra-im is as a heifer that is taught, and loveth to tread out the corn; but I passed over upon her fair neck: I will make E’phra-im 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: Jer. 4.3 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 Beth–ar’bel in the day of battle: the mother was dashed in pieces upon her children.
15	So shall Beth–el do unto you because of your great wickedness: in a morning shall the king of Israel utterly be cut off.

Published by The American Bible Society

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