1
1Israel is a luxuriant vine that yields its fruit. The more his fruit increased, 2the more altars he built; as his country improved, he improved his pillars.
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Their heart is false; now they must bear their guilt. The LORD a will break down their altars and destroy their pillars.
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For now they will say: 3"We have no king, for we do not fear the LORD; and a king--what could he do for us?"
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They utter 4mere words; with empty oaths they make covenants; so 5judgment springs up like poisonous weeds 6in the furrows of the field.
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The inhabitants of Samaria tremble for 7the calfb of 8Beth-aven. Its people mourn for it, and so do its idolatrous priests-- those who rejoiced over it and 9over its glory-- for it has departedc from them.
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10The thing itself shall be carried to Assyria as tribute to 11the great king.d Ephraim shall be put to shame, and Israel shall be ashamed 12of his idol.e
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The high places of 14Aven, 15the sin of Israel, shall be destroyed. 16Thorn and thistle shall grow up on their altars, and 17they shall say to the mountains, "Cover us," and to the hills, "Fall on us."
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From 18the days of Gibeah, you have sinned, O Israel; there they have continued. Shall not the war against the unjustf overtake them in Gibeah?
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19When I please, 20I will discipline them, and nations shall be gathered against them when they are bound up for 21their double iniquity.
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Ephraim was a trained calf that 22loved to thresh, and I spared her fair neck; but I will put 23Ephraim to the yoke; 24Judah must plow; Jacob must harrow for himself.
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25Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap steadfast love; 26break up your fallow ground, for it is the time to seek the LORD, that he may come and 27rain righteousness upon you.
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28You have plowed iniquity; you have reaped injustice; you have eaten the fruit of lies. Because you have trusted in your own way and in the multitude of your warriors,
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.
(English Standard Version - The Holy Bible Online)