VerseAI

NIV

Hosea 10

  1. 1<pb/><t>Israel was a spreading vine;</t> <t>he brought forth fruit for himself.</t> <t>As his fruit increased,</t> <t>he built more altars;</t> <t>as his land prospered,</t> <t>he adorned his sacred stones.</t>
  2. 2<t>Their heart is deceitful,</t> <t>and now they must bear their guilt.</t> <t>The LORD will demolish their altars</t> <t>and destroy their sacred stones. <pb/></t>
  3. 3<t>Then they will say, “We have no king</t> <t>because we did not revere the LORD.</t> <t>But even if we had a king,</t> <t>what could he do for us?”</t>
  4. 4<t>They make many promises,</t> <t>take false oaths</t> <t>and make agreements;</t> <t>therefore lawsuits spring up</t> <t>like poisonous weeds in a plowed field.</t>
  5. 5<t>The people who live in Samaria fear</t> <t>for the calf-idol of Beth Aven.<f>[25]</f></t> <t>Its people will mourn over it,</t> <t>and so will its idolatrous priests,</t> <t>those who had rejoiced over its splendor,</t> <t>because it is taken from them into exile.</t>
  6. 6<t>It will be carried to Assyria</t> <t>as tribute for the great king.</t> <t>Ephraim will be disgraced;</t> <t>Israel will be ashamed of its foreign alliances.</t>
  7. 7<t>Samaria’s king will be destroyed,</t> <t>swept away like a twig on the surface of the waters.</t>
  8. 8<t>The high places of wickedness<f>[26]</f> will be destroyed—</t> <t>it is the sin of Israel.</t> <t>Thorns and thistles will grow up</t> <t>and cover their altars.</t> <t>Then they will say to the mountains, “Cover us!”</t> <t>and to the hills, “Fall on us!” <pb/></t>
  9. 9<t>“Since the days of Gibeah, you have sinned, Israel,</t> <t>and there you have remained.<f>[27]</f></t> <t>Will not war again overtake</t> <t>the evildoers in Gibeah?</t>
  10. 10<t>When I please, I will punish them;</t> <t>nations will be gathered against them</t> <t>to put them in bonds for their double sin.</t>
  11. 11<t>Ephraim is a trained heifer</t> <t>that loves to thresh;</t> <t>so I will put a yoke</t> <t>on her fair neck.</t> <t>I will drive Ephraim,</t> <t>Judah must plow,</t> <t>and Jacob must break up the ground.</t>
  12. 12<t>Sow righteousness for yourselves,</t> <t>reap the fruit of unfailing love,</t> <t>and break up your unplowed ground;</t> <t>for it is time to seek the LORD,</t> <t>until he comes</t> <t>and showers his righteousness on you.</t>
  13. 13<t>But you have planted wickedness,</t> <t>you have reaped evil,</t> <t>you have eaten the fruit of deception.</t> <t>Because you have depended on your own strength</t> <t>and on your many warriors,</t>
  14. 14<t>the roar of battle will rise against your people,</t> <t>so that all your fortresses will be devastated—</t> <t>as Shalman devastated Beth Arbel on the day of battle,</t> <t>when mothers were dashed to the ground with their children.</t>
  15. 15<t>So will it happen to you, Bethel,</t> <t>because your wickedness is great.</t> <t>When that day dawns,</t> <t>the king of Israel will be completely destroyed.</t>