Oséias 10
En frodig vinstok var Israel, som bar sin frugt, jo flere frugter, des flere Altre; som Landet gik frem, des skønnere Støtter.
Deres Hjerte var glat, så lad dem da bøde! Han skal slå Altrene ned, lægge Støtterne øde.
Med Ord slår de om sig, gør Mened og indgår Forbund, så Ret bliver Gifturt, der gror langs Markens Furer.
For Bet-Avens Kalv skal Samarias Borgere ængstes, ja, over den skal dens Folk og dens Præster sørge, jamre over deres Skat, thi den bortføres fra dem;
som Gave til Storkongen føres og den til Assur. Efraim høster kun Skændsel, Israel Skam af sin Afgud.
Samarias Konge slettes som Skum på Vandets Flade.
Stammerne samled sig mod dem til Tugt for tvefold Brøde.
En tilvænnet Kvie var Efraim, tærskede villigt, Åget lagde jeg selv på dens skønne Hals; for Ploven spændte jeg Efraim, Juda for Harven.
Så eders Sæd i Retfærd, høst i Fromhed; bryd eder kundskabs Nyjord og søg så HERREN, til Retfærds Frugt bliver eder til Del.
I pløjede Gudløshed, høstede Uret, fortærede Løgnens Frugt. Fordi du slår Lid til dine Vogne og mange Helte,
skal Kampgny stå i dine Byer og alle dine Borge. De skal ødelægges, som da Sjalman ødelagde Bet-Arbel på Stridens Dag. Moder skal knuses hos Børn.
Det voldte Betel eder. For din Ondskabs Skyld skal Israels Konge, ved Morgengry gøres til intet.
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. {an...: or, a vine emptying the fruit which it giveth} {images: Heb. statues, or, standing images}
Their heart is divided; now shall they be found faulty: he shall break down their altars, he shall spoil their images. {Their heart...: or, He hath divided their heart} {break...: Heb. behead} {images: Heb. statues, or, standing images}
For now they shall say, We have no king, because we feared not the LORD; what then should a king do to us?
They have spoken words, swearing falsely in making a covenant: thus judgment springeth up as hemlock in the furrows of the field.
The inhabitants of Samaria shall fear because of the calves of Bethaven: 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. {the priests...: or, Chemarim}
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.
{As for} Samaria, her king is cut off as the foam upon the water. {the water: Heb. the face of the water}
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.
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.
{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. {when...: or, when I shall bind them for their two transgressions, or, in their two habitations}
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. {her...: Heb. the beauty of her neck}
Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for {it is} time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.
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.
Therefore shall a tumult arise among thy people, and all thy fortresses shall be spoiled, as Shalman spoiled Betharbel in the day of battle: the mother was dashed in pieces upon {her} children.
So shall Bethel do unto you because of your great wickedness: in a morning shall the king of Israel utterly be cut off. {your...: Heb. the evil of your evil}