Hosea 10

¹Israel was a luxuriant vine,

²Their hearts are devious;

³Surely now they will say,

⁴They speak mere words;

⁵The people of Samaria will fear

⁶Yes, it will be carried to Assyria

⁷Samaria will be carried off with her king

⁸The high places of Aven 10:8 Or of wickedness; Aven is a reference to Beth-aven (a derogatory term for Bethel); see verse 5. will be destroyed—

⁹Since the days of Gibeah you have sinned, O Israel,

¹⁰I will chasten them when I please;

¹¹Ephraim is a well-trained heifer that loves to thresh;

¹²Sow for yourselves righteousness

¹³You have plowed wickedness and reaped injustice;

¹⁴the roar of battle will rise against your people,

¹⁵Thus it will be done to you, O Bethel,