Read the Bible

¹ Israel is a luxuriant vine, that putteth forth his fruit: according to the abundance of his fruit he hath multiplied his altars; according to the ^[a]goodness of their land they have made goodly ^[b]pillars. ^2 [c]Their heart is ^[d]divided; now shall they be found guilty: he will smite their altars, he will destroy their ^[e]pillars. ³ Surely now shall they say, We have no king; for we fear not Jehovah; and the king, what can he do for us?

⁴ They speak vain words, ^[f]swearing falsely in making covenants: therefore judgment ^[g]springeth up as ^[h]hemlock in the furrows of the field. ⁵ The inhabitants of Samaria shall be in terror for the calves of Beth-aven; for the people thereof shall mourn over it, and ^[i]the priests thereof that rejoiced over it, for the glory thereof, because it is departed from it. ⁶ It also shall be carried unto Assyria for a present to king Jareb: Ephraim shall receive shame, and Israel shall be ashamed of his own counsel. ^7 [j]As for Samaria, her king is cut off, as ^[k]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 ^[l]from the days of Gibeah: ^[m]there they stood; ^[n]the battle against the children of iniquity doth not overtake them in Gibeah.

¹⁰ When it is my desire, I will chastise them; and the peoples shall be gathered against them, when they are ^[o]bound ^[p]to their two transgressions. ¹¹ And Ephraim is a heifer that is taught, that loveth to tread out the grain; but I have passed over upon her fair neck: I will set a rider on Ephraim; Judah shall plow, Jacob shall break his clods.

¹² Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap according to kindness; break up your fallow ground; for it is time to seek Jehovah, till he come and ^[q]rain righteousness upon you. ¹³ Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit of ^[r]lies; for thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men. ¹⁴ Therefore shall a tumult arise ^[s]among thy ^[t]people, and all thy fortresses shall be destroyed, as Shalman destroyed Beth-arbel in the day of battle: the mother was dashed in pieces with her children. ^15 [u]So shall Beth-el do unto you because of your great wickedness: at daybreak shall the king of Israel be utterly cut off.