Capítulo 10

1 - Israel was a spreading vine; he brought forth fruit for himself. As his fruit increased, he built more altars; as his land prospered, he adorned his sacred stones.

2 - Their heart is deceitful, and now they must bear their guilt. The Lord will demolish their altars and destroy their sacred stones.

3 - Then they will say, "We have no king because we did not revere the Lord. But even if we had a king, what could he do for us?"

4 - They make many promises, take false oaths and make agreements; therefore lawsuits spring up like poisonous weeds in a plowed field.

5 - The people who live in Samaria fear for the calf-idol of Beth Aven. [Beth Aven] means [house of wickedness] (a derogatory name for Bethel, which means [house of God]). Its people will mourn over it, and so will its idolatrous priests, those who had rejoiced over its splendor, because it is taken from them into exile.

6 - It will be carried to Assyria as tribute for the great king. Ephraim will be disgraced; Israel will be ashamed of its foreign alliances.

7 - Samaria's king will be destroyed, swept away like a twig on the surface of the waters.

8 - The high places of wickedness Hebrew [aven,] a reference to Beth Aven (a derogatory name for Bethel); see verse 5. will be destroyed - it is the sin of Israel. Thorns and thistles will grow up and cover their altars. Then they will say to the mountains, "Cover us!" and to the hills, "Fall on us!"

9 - "Since the days of Gibeah, you have sinned, Israel, and there you have remained. Or [there a stand was taken] Will not war again overtake the evildoers in Gibeah?

10 - When I please, I will punish them; nations will be gathered against them to put them in bonds for their double sin.

11 - Ephraim is a trained heifer that loves to thresh; so I will put a yoke on her fair neck. I will drive Ephraim, Judah must plow, and Jacob must break up the ground.

12 - Sow righteousness for yourselves, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the Lord, until he comes and showers his righteousness on you.

13 - But you have planted wickedness, you have reaped evil, you have eaten the fruit of deception. Because you have depended on your own strength and on your many warriors,

14 - the roar of battle will rise against your people, so that all your fortresses will be devastated - as Shalman devastated Beth Arbel on the day of battle, when mothers were dashed to the ground with their children.

15 - So will it happen to you, Bethel, because your wickedness is great. When that day dawns, the king of Israel will be completely destroyed.