Israel’s corruption

10 I found Israel

like finding grapes in the wilderness.

I saw your ancestors

like they were the first fruit on a fig tree,

but as soon as they came to Baal-peor,

they consecrated themselves to shamefulness,

and became as abominable as the object of their love.

11 Ephraim – like a bird his glory flies away.

There will be no more birth,

no more motherhood,

no more conception.

12 Even though they bring up their children,

I will bereave them until not one is left.

Woe to them when I turn away from them!

13 Ephraim – planted like Tyre in a meadow[fn],

But Ephraim too must lead forth their children to slaughter.

14 Give them, Lord – what will you give?

Give them a miscarrying womb and shrivelled up breasts!

15 All their evil began in Gilgal,

there I learned to hate them.

Because of the evil of their deeds

I will drive them out of my house.

I will no longer love them,

for all their princes are rebels.

16 Ephraim is blighted,

their root withered.

If they do bear children,

I will slay the darlings of their womb,

17 My God will reject them

because they have not listened to him,

and they will become wanderers among the nations.

10 A luxuriant vine is Israel.

He bore fruit lavishly.

In proportion to the increase of his fruit

he increased altars to idols.

In proportion to the beauty of his land

he made beautiful the sacred pillars.

2 Their heart is false,

now they must be punished.

God himself will break the necks of their altars,

he will destroy their sacred pillars.

3 Yes, soon they will be saying,

‘We have no king,

for we have not revered the Lord,

and a king, what could he do for us anyway?’

4 Speaking words, perjuring themselves, making agreements,

and litigation springs up like a poisonous weed in a ploughed field.

5 The inhabitants of Samaria will tremble with fear

for their calf of Beth-aven.

Its people will mourn over it,

and so will its priests,

who had rejoiced for its glory,

now departed from it.

6 It will be carried off to Assyria

as a present to the patron king.

Disgrace will Ephraim bear

and Israel will be ashamed of its idol.

7 As for Samaria, her king will disappear,

like foam on the face of the waters.

8 And the high places of Aven will be destroyed,

the shrines of Israel’s sin,

thorns and thistles will grow on their altars,

and they will say to the mountains, ‘Cover us,’

and to the hills, ‘Fall upon us.’