Hosea 10
1ISRAEL was a vine with beautiful branches; the fruit thereof was abundant. In proportion to the abundance of his fruit he multiplied altars: in proportion to the good things of his land he erected pillars.
2They divided their hearts; they shall now be destroyed. He will demolish their altars. Their pillars shall be in extreme distress.
3Because they will now say, We have no king, because we feared not the Lord. But as for this king, what can he do for us?
4Speaking words, false pretences, will he make a covenant? Will judgment spring up like a weed in an uncultivated field?
5Let the inhabitants of Samaria sojourn with the calf of the house of On, because its people mourned for it. Now as they provoked it, they should rejoice at its glory—that it hath been removed from them.
6They indeed having bound it, carried it to the Assyrians, as a present to the king Iarim. As an homage gift of Ephraim he will receive it, and Israel shall be exposed to shame by his counsel.
7Samaria hath cast away her king as a chip on the surface of water.
8The altars of On, the stumbling blocks of Israel, shall indeed be taken away; thorns and thistles shall grow on their altars, and they will say to the hills, cover us, and to the mounts, Fall upon us.
9From the time of those mounts, Israel sinned: it was there they stood. Should not battle against these children of iniquity overtake them on this mount,
10to chastise them? Peoples shall indeed be gathered against them, when they are corrected for their two iniquities.
11Ephraim is a heifer taught to love victory; but I will come against her beautiful neck; I will bring Ephraim into subjection; I will cause Juda to keep silence; Jacob shall wrestle for himself.
12(p) Sow for yourselves for righteousness; gather in the fruit of life. Light up for yourselves the light of knowledge. Seek the Lord until the fruits of righteousness come for you.
13Why have you concealed impiety and gathered in the iniquities thereof? You have eaten false fruit. (J) Because thou hast trusted in thy sins, and in the multitude of thine army,
14therefore destruction shall be raised up among thy people; and all thy fortifications shall be swept away, as chief Salamin was out of the house of Jeroboam. In the days of battle a mother was dashed to pieces upon her children.
15In this manner I will deal with you, O house of Israel, because of the perverseness of your iniquities. (p) Early in the morning they have been rejected! the king of Israel is cast off!