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The Prophet Hosea

⭑ Berean Study Bible :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

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- Chapter 10 -

1
Israel was a luxuriant vine, yielding fruit for himself. The more his fruit increased, the more he increased the altars. The better his land produced, the better he made the sacred pillars.
2
Their hearts are devious; now they must bear their guilt. The LORD will break down their altars and demolish their sacred pillars.
3
Surely now they will say, “We have no king, for we do not revere the LORD. What can a king do for us?”
4
They speak mere words; with false oaths they make covenants. So judgment springs up like poisonous weeds in the furrows of a field.
5
The people of Samaria will fear for the calf of Beth-aven.(a) Indeed, its people will mourn with its idolatrous priests— those who rejoiced in its glory— for it has been taken from them into exile.
6
Yes, it will be carried to Assyria as tribute to the great king.(b) Ephraim (c) will be seized with shame; Israel will be ashamed of its wooden idols.(d)
7
Samaria will be carried off with her king like a twig on the surface of the water.
8
The high places of Aven (e) will be destroyed— it is the sin of Israel; thorns and thistles will overgrow their altars. Then they will say to the mountains, “Cover us!” and to the hills, “Fall on us!”(f)
9
Since the days of Gibeah you have sinned, O Israel, and there you have remained. Did not the battle in Gibeah overtake the sons of iniquity?(g)
10
I will chasten them when I please; nations will be gathered against them to put them in bondage for their double transgression.
11
Ephraim is a well-trained heifer that loves to thresh; but I will place a yoke on her fair neck. I will harness Ephraim, Judah will plow, and Jacob will break the hard ground.
12
Sow for yourselves righteousness and reap the fruit of loving devotion; break up your unplowed ground. For it is time to seek the LORD until He comes and sends righteousness upon you like rain.
13
You have plowed wickedness and reaped injustice; you have eaten the fruit of lies. Because you have trusted in your own way and in the multitude of your mighty men,
14
the roar of battle will rise against your people, so that all your fortresses will be demolished as Shalman devastated Beth-arbel in the day of battle, when mothers were dashed to pieces along with their children.
15
Thus it will be done to you, O Bethel, because of your great wickedness. When the day dawns, the king of Israel will be utterly cut off.

Footnotes

(a)10:5 Beth-aven means house of wickedness. This is a derogatory term for Bethel, which means house of God; see 1 Kings 12:28–29.
(b)10:6 Or to King Jareb
(c)10:6 That is, the northern kingdom of Israel; also in verse 11
(d)10:6 Or of its own counsel
(e)10:8 Or of wickedness; Aven is a reference to Beth-aven (a derogatory term for Bethel); see verse 5.
(f)10:8 Cited in Luke 23:30; see also Revelation 6:16.
(g)10:9 Or Did not the battle overtake the sons of iniquity in Gibeah?
1
Israel is a luxuriant vine that produces his fruit. According to the abundance of his fruit he has multiplied his altars. As their land has prospered, they have adorned their sacred stones.
2
Their heart is divided. Now they will be found guilty. He will demolish their altars. He will destroy their sacred stones.
3
Surely now they will say, “We have no king; for we don’t fear the LORD; and the king, what can he do for us?”
4
They make promises, swearing falsely in making covenants. Therefore judgment springs up like poisonous weeds in the furrows of the field.
5
The inhabitants of Samaria will be in terror for the calves of Beth Aven, for its people will mourn over it, along with its priests who rejoiced over it, for its glory, because it has departed from it.
6
It also will be carried to Assyria for a present to a great king. Ephraim will receive shame, and Israel will be ashamed of his own counsel.
7
Samaria and her king float away like a twig on the water.
8
The high places also of Aven, the sin of Israel, will be destroyed. The thorn and the thistle will come up on their altars. They will tell the mountains, “Cover us!” and the hills, “Fall on us!”
9
“Israel, you have sinned from the days of Gibeah. There they remained. The battle against the children of iniquity doesn’t overtake them in Gibeah.
10
When it is my desire, I will chastise them; and the nations will be gathered against them when they are bound to their two transgressions.
11
Ephraim is a trained heifer that loves to thresh, so I will put a yoke on her beautiful neck. I will set a rider on Ephraim. Judah will plow. Jacob will break his clods.
12
Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap according to kindness. Break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the LORD, until he comes and rains righteousness on you.
13
You have plowed wickedness. You have reaped iniquity. You have eaten the fruit of lies, for you trusted in your way, in the multitude of your mighty men.
14
Therefore a battle roar will arise among your people, and all your fortresses will be destroyed, as Shalman destroyed Beth Arbel in the day of battle. The mother was dashed in pieces with her children.
15
So Bethel will do to you because of your great wickedness. At daybreak the king of Israel will be destroyed.
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