1 Israel é vide luxuriante, que dá o fruto; segundo a abundância do seu fruto, assim multiplicou os altares; quanto melhor a terra, tanto mais belas colunas fizeram. 2 O seu coração é falso; por isso, serão culpados; o Senhor quebrará os seus altares e deitará abaixo as colunas. 3 Agora, pois, dirão eles: Não temos rei, porque não tememos ao Senhor. E o rei, que faria por nós? 4 Falam palavras vãs, jurando falsamente, fazendo aliança; por isso, brota o juízo como erva venenosa nos sulcos dos campos.

5 Os moradores de Samaria serão atemorizados por causa do bezerro de Bete-Áven; o seu povo se lamentará por causa dele, e os sacerdotes idólatras tremerão por causa da sua glória, que já se foi. 6 Também o bezerro será levado à Assíria como presente ao rei principal; Efraim se cobrirá de vexame, e Israel se envergonhará por causa de seu próprio capricho. 7 O rei de Samaria será como lasca de madeira na superfície da água. 8 E os altos de Áven, pecado de Israel, serão destruídos; espinheiros e abrolhos crescerão sobre os seus altares; e aos montes se dirá: Cobri-nos! E aos outeiros: Caí sobre nós!

9 Desde os dias de Gibeá, pecaste, ó Israel, e nisto permaneceste. A peleja contra os filhos da perversidade não há de alcançar-te em Gibeá? 10 Castigarei o povo na medida do meu desejo; e congregar-se-ão contra eles os povos, quando eu o punir por causa de sua dupla transgressão. 11 Porque Efraim era uma bezerra domada, que gostava de trilhar; coloquei o jugo sobre a formosura do seu pescoço; atrelei Efraim ao carro. Judá lavrará, Jacó lhe desfará os torrões. 12 Então, eu disse: semeai para vós outros em justiça, ceifai segundo a misericórdia; arai o campo de pousio; porque é tempo de buscar ao Senhor, até que ele venha, e chova a justiça sobre vós. 13 Arastes a malícia, colhestes a perversidade; comestes o fruto da mentira, porque confiastes nos vossos carros e na multidão dos vossos valentes. 14 Portanto, entre o teu povo se levantará tumulto de guerra, e todas as tuas fortalezas serão destruídas, como Salmã destruiu a Bete-Arbel no dia da guerra; as mães ali foram despedaçadas com seus filhos. 15 Assim vos fará Betel, por causa da vossa grande malícia; como passa a alva, assim será o rei de Israel totalmente destruído.

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 goodness of their land they have made goodly pillars. 2 Their heart is divided; now shall they be found guilty: he will smite their altars, he will destroy their 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, swearing falsely in making covenants: therefore judgment springeth up as 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 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 As for Samaria, her king is cut off, as 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 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 bound 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 rain righteousness upon you. 13 Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit of lies; for 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 destroyed, as Shalman destroyed Beth-arbel in the day of battle: the mother was dashed in pieces with her children. 15 So shall Beth-el do unto you because of your great wickedness: at daybreak shall the king of Israel be utterly cut off.

1 Israel was a spreading vine; he brought forth fruit for himself. As his fruit increased, he built more altars; as his land prospered, he adorned his sacred stones.

2 Their heart is deceitful, and now they must bear their guilt. The LORD will demolish their altars and destroy their sacred stones.

3 Then they will say, "We have no king because we did not revere the LORD. But even if we had a king, what could he do for us?"

4 They make many promises, take false oaths and make agreements; therefore lawsuits spring up like poisonous weeds in a plowed field.

5 The people who live in Samaria fear for the calf-idol of Beth Aven. "Its people will mourn over it, and so will its idolatrous priests, those who had rejoiced over its splendor, because it is taken from them into exile.

6 It will be carried to Assyria as tribute for the great king. Ephraim will be disgraced; Israel will be ashamed of its foreign alliances.

7 Samaria's king will be destroyed, swept away like a twig on the surface of the waters.

8 The high places of wickedness "will be destroyed — it is the sin of Israel. Thorns and thistles will grow up and cover their altars. Then they will say to the mountains, "Cover us!" and to the hills, "Fall on us!"

9 "Since the days of Gibeah, you have sinned, Israel, and there you have remained. "Will not war again overtake the evildoers in Gibeah?

10 When I please, I will punish them; nations will be gathered against them to put them in bonds for their double sin.

11 Ephraim is a trained heifer that loves to thresh; so I will put a yoke on her fair neck. I will drive Ephraim, Judah must plow, and Jacob must break up the ground.

12 Sow righteousness for yourselves, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the LORD, until he comes and showers his righteousness on you.

13 But you have planted wickedness, you have reaped evil, you have eaten the fruit of deception. Because you have depended on your own strength and on your many warriors,

14 the roar of battle will rise against your people, so that all your fortresses will be devastated — as Shalman devastated Beth Arbel on the day of battle, when mothers were dashed to the ground with their children.

15 So will it happen to you, Bethel, because your wickedness is great. When that day dawns, the king of Israel will be completely destroyed.