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 altarsand destroy their sacred stones.
3. Then they will say, ‘We have no kingbecause 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 oathsand make agreements;therefore lawsuits spring uplike poisonous weeds in a ploughed field.
5. The people who live in Samaria fearfor the calf-idol of Beth Aven.Its people will mourn over it,and so will its idolatrous priests,those who had rejoiced over its splendour,because it is taken from them into exile.