1: Israel is an empty vine, he bringeth forth fruit unto
himself: according to the multitude of his fruit he hath increased the
altars; according to the goodness of his land they have made goodly
images. |
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2: Their heart is divided; now shall they be found faulty: he
shall break down their altars, he shall spoil their images. |
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3:
For now they shall say, We have no king, because we feared not
the LORD; what then should a king do to us? |
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4: They have spoken words, swearing falsely in making a covenant:
thus judgment springeth up as hemlock in the furrows of the field. |
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5: The inhabitants of Samaria shall fear because of the calves of
Beth-aven: for the people thereof shall mourn over it, and the priests
thereof that rejoiced on it, for the glory thereof, because it is
departed from it. |
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6: It shall be also carried unto Assyria for a present to king
Jareb: Ephraim shall receive shame, and Israel shall be ashamed of his
own counsel. |
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7: As for Samaria, her king is cut off as the foam upon the
water. |
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8: The high places also of Aven, the sin of Israel, shall be
destroyed: the thorn and the thistle shall come up on their altars; and
they shall say to the mountains, Cover us; and to the hills, Fall on us.
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9: O Israel, thou hast sinned from the days of Gibeah: there they
stood: the battle in Gibeah against the children of iniquity did not
overtake them. |
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10: It is in my desire that I should chastise them; and the
people shall be gathered against them, when they shall bind themselves
in their two furrows. |
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11: And Ephraim is as an heifer that is taught, and loveth to
tread out the corn; but I passed over upon her fair neck: I will make
Ephraim to ride; Judah shall plow, and Jacob shall break his clods. |
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12: Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up
your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and
rain righteousness upon you. |
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13: Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have
eaten the fruit of lies: because thou didst trust in thy way, in the
multitude of thy mighty men. |
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14: Therefore shall a tumult arise among thy people, and all thy
fortresses shall be spoiled, as Shalman spoiled Beth-arbel in the day of
battle: the mother was dashed in pieces upon her children. |
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15: So shall Bethel do unto you because of your great wickedness:
in a morning shall the king of Israel utterly be cut off. |