| Chapter 10 |
| 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. |
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2 | Their heart is divided; now shall they be found
faulty: he shall break down their altars, he shall spoil their images.
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| 3 | For now they shall say, We have no king, because we feared not the LORD;
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. |
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5 | 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. |
| 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 LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.
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| 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. |
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14 | 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. |
| 15 |
So shall Bethel do unto you because of your great wickedness: in a morning
shall the king of Israel utterly be cut off. |
