1
Israel is a branching vine, full of fruit; as his fruit is increased, so the number of his altars is increased; as the land is fair, so they have made fair pillars.
2
Their mind is taken away; now they will be made waste: he will have their altars broken down, he will give their pillars to destruction.
3
Now, truly, they will say, We have no king, we have no fear of the Lord; and the king, what is he able to do for us?
4
Their words are foolish; they make agreements with false oaths, so punishment will come up like a poison-plant in a ploughed field.
5
The people of Samaria will be full of fear because of the ox of Beth-aven; its people will have sorrow for it, and its priests will give cries of grief for its glory, for the glory has gone in flight.
6
And they will take it to Assyria and give it to the great king; shame will come on Ephraim, and Israel will be shamed because of its image.