101 Israel is a luxuriant vine ; He produces fruit for himself. The more his fruit , The more altars he made ; The richer his land , The better he made the sacred pillars . 2 Their heart is faithless ; Now they must bear their guilt . The Lord will break down their altars And destroy their sacred pillars . 3 Surely now they will say , "We have no king , For we do not revere the Lord . As for the king , what can he do for us?" 4 They speak mere words , With worthless oaths they make covenants ; And judgment sprouts like poisonous weeds in the furrows of the field . 5 The inhabitants of Samaria will fear For the calf of Beth-aven . Indeed , its people will mourn for it, And its idolatrous priests will cry out over it, Over its glory , since it has departed from it. 6 The thing itself will be carried to Assyria As tribute to King Jareb ; Ephraim will be seized with shame And Israel will be ashamed of its own counsel . 7 Samaria will be cut off with her king Like a stick on the surface of the water . 8 Also the high places of Aven , the sin of Israel , will be destroyed ; Thorn and thistle will grow on their altars ; Then they will say to the mountains , "Cover us!" And to the hills , "Fall on us!"
9 From the days of Gibeah you have sinned , O Israel ; There they stand ! Will not the battle against the sons of iniquity overtake them in Gibeah ? 10 When it is My desire , I will chastise them; And the peoples will be gathered against them When they are bound for their double guilt . 11 Ephraim is a trained heifer that loves to thresh , But I will come over her fair neck with a yoke; I will harness Ephraim , Judah will plow , Jacob will harrow for himself. 12 Sow with a view to righteousness , Reap in accordance with kindness ; Break up your fallow ground , For it is time to seek the Lord Until He comes to rain righteousness on you. 13 You have plowed wickedness , you have reaped injustice , You have eaten the fruit of lies . Because you have trusted in your way , in your numerous warriors , 14 Therefore a tumult will arise among your people , And all your fortresses will be destroyed , As Shalman destroyed Beth-arbel on the day of battle , When mothers were dashed in pieces with their children . 15 Thus it will be done to you at Bethel because e of your great wickedness . At dawn the king of Israel will be completely cut off .
