1. The people of Israel were like a grapevine that was full of grapes. The more prosperous they were, the more altars they built. The more productive their land was, the more beautiful they made the sacred stone pillars they worship.
2. The people whose hearts are deceitful must now suffer for their sins. God will break down their altars and destroy their sacred pillars.
3. These people will soon be saying, “We have no king because we did not fear the Lord. But what could a king do for us anyway?”
4. They utter empty words and make false promises and useless treaties. Justice has become injustice, growing like poisonous weeds in a ploughed field.
5. The people who live in the city of Samaria will be afraid and will mourn the loss of the gold bull at Bethaven. They and the priests who serve the idol will weep over it. They will wail when it is stripped of its golden splendour.