I<\/span>srael 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.<\/span><\/p>\n 2<\/sup>Their heart is divided; now shall they be found faulty: he shall break down their altars, he shall spoil their images.<\/span> <\/p>\n 3<\/sup>For now they shall say, We have no king, because we feared not the LORD; what then should a king do to us?<\/span> <\/p>\n 4<\/sup>They have spoken words, swearing falsely in making a covenant: thus judgment springeth up as hemlock in the furrows of the field.<\/span> <\/p>\n 5<\/sup>The inhabitants of Samaria shall fear because of the calves of Bethaven: 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.<\/span> <\/p>\n 6<\/sup>It shall be also carried unto Assyria for a present to king Jareb: Ephraim shall receive shame, and Israel shall be ashamed of his own counsel.<\/span> <\/p>\n 7<\/sup>As for Samaria, her king is cut off as the foam upon the water.<\/span> <\/p>\n 8<\/sup>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.<\/span> <\/p>\n 9<\/sup>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.<\/span> <\/p>\n 10<\/sup>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.<\/span> <\/p>\n 11<\/sup>And Ephraim is as an heifer that is taught, and loveth to tread out the corn; but I passed over upon her fair neck: I will make Ephraim to ride; Judah shall plow, and Jacob shall break his clods.<\/span> <\/p>\n 12<\/sup>Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.<\/span> <\/p>\n 13<\/sup>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.<\/span> <\/p>\n 14<\/sup>Therefore shall a tumult arise among thy people, and all thy fortresses shall be spoiled, as Shalman spoiled Betharbel in the day of battle: the mother was dashed in pieces upon her children.<\/span> <\/p>\n 15<\/sup>So shall Bethel do unto you because of your great wickedness: in a morning shall the king of Israel utterly be cut off.<\/span> <\/p>\n