1 Israel is a luxuriant vine {gefen: fruitful vine}; he produces fruit for himself. According to the abundance of his fruit, he increased the altars; as the goodness of his land grew, they improved the pillars {matzevot: standing stones}.
2 Their heart is divided; now they will be found guilty. He {YHWH, Judgment Bringer} will tear down their altars and devastate their pillars {matsevotam: erected stones}.
3 For now they will say, “We have no king, for we have not feared {yareinu: held in awe} the LORD {YHWH, Covenant Judge}; and the king—what could he do for us?”
4 They spoke words; they swore oaths of falsehood, cutting a covenant. And judgment springs up like hemlock {karosh: bitter poison} upon the furrows {talmey: plowed rows} of the field.
5 The inhabitants of Samaria will tremble for the calves {eglot: idol figures} of Beth-aven; its people will mourn over it, and so will its priests {kemarav: shrine priests}—those who rejoiced over it, over its glory—because it has been taken away from them.
6 Also it will be brought to Assyria as an offering {minchah: forced payment} to King Jareb; Ephraim will receive shame, and Israel will be ashamed of his counsel {meatsato: his own advice}.
7 Samaria {shomron: capital city} is brought to nothing; her king is like foam {ketsef: momentary scum} upon the surface of the waters.
8 And the high places of Aven {aven: idolatrous site} will be destroyed. Thorn and thistle will grow up upon their altars {mizbechotam: worship platforms}. And they will say to the mountains, "Cover us," and to the hills, "Fall on us."
9 From the days of Gibeah {hagivah: Benjamite town} you have sinned, Israel; there they stood. Will not the battle in Gibeah against the sons of iniquity {alwah: twisted wrong} overtake them?
10 In my desire, I will chasten them, and peoples will be gathered against them when they are bound for their two {shtê: double intensification} iniquities {ʿonotam: guilty offenses}.
11 And Ephraim is a trained heifer; I {YHWH, Righteous Discipliner} loved to thresh, but I spared her fair neck; I will harness {arkiv: yoke work} Ephraim; Judah will plow; and Jacob will harrow for himself.
12 Sow for yourselves for righteousness, reap according to lovingkindness {chesed: loyal covenant love}; break up for yourselves fallow ground, and it is time to seek the LORD {YHWH, Righteous Rewarder} until He comes and showers righteousness for you.
13 You have plowed wickedness and reaped injustice; you have eaten the fruit of lies because you trusted in your way {darkekha: personal path} and in the multitude of your mighty men {giboreikha: warriors}.
14 And tumult{shaon: battle roar} will arise among your people, and all your fortresses will be laid waste, like the devastation of Shalman at Beth-arbel{beit arbel: Arbel town} in the day of battle; a mother was dashed upon children.
15 Thus it shall be done to you, O Bethel, because of your great evil {ra'at ra'atkhem: intensified wickedness}. At dawn the king of Israel will be utterly cut off {nidmo nidmah: sudden finality}.