Hosea 10:1–6

[1] Israel is a luxuriant vine

that yields its fruit.

The more his fruit increased,

the more altars he built;

as his country improved,

he improved his pillars.

[2] Their heart is false;

now they must bear their guilt.

The LORD will break down their altars

and destroy their pillars.

[3] For now they will say:

“We have no king,

for we do not fear the LORD;

and a king—what could he do for us?”

[4] They utter mere words;

with empty oaths they make covenants;

so judgment springs up like poisonous weeds

in the furrows of the field.

[5] The inhabitants of Samaria tremble

for the calf of Beth-aven.

Its people mourn for it, and so do its idolatrous priests—

those who rejoiced over it and over its glory—

for it has departed from them.

[6] The thing itself shall be carried to Assyria

as tribute to the great king.

Ephraim shall be put to shame,

and Israel shall be ashamed of his idol.