Israel have plowed wickedness and reaped iniquity—Hosea calls upon them to seek the Lord.

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.

2 - Their heart is divided ; now shall they be found faulty : he shall break down their altars, he shall spoil their images.

3 - For now they shall say, We have no king, because we feared not the L ORD ; what then should a king do to us?

4 - They have spoken words, swearing falsely in making a covenant : thus judgment springeth up as hemlock in the furrows of the field.

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.

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.

7 - As for Samaria, her king is cut off as the foam upon the water.

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.

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.

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.

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.

12 - Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the L ORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.

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.

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.

15 - So shall Beth-el do unto you because of your great wickedness: in a morning shall the king of Israel utterly be cut off.