4 They speak mere words,taking false oaths while making covenants. So lawsuits break outlike poisonous weeds in the furrows of a field.
5 The residents of Samaria will have anxietyover the calf of Beth-aven. Indeed, its idolatrous priests rejoiced over it;the people will mourn over it,over its glory. It will certainly depart from them.
6 The calf itself will be taken to Assyria as an offering to the great king. Ephraim will experience shame; Israel will be ashamed of its counsel.
7 Samaria’s king will disappear like foam on the surface of the water.
8 The high places of Aven, the sin of Israel, will be destroyed;thorns and thistles will grow over their altars. They will say to the mountains, “Cover us! ”and to the hills, “Fall on us! ”
9 Israel, you have sinnedsince the days of Gibeah; they have taken their stand there.Will not war against the unjustovertake them in Gibeah?
10 I will discipline them at My discretion; nations will be gathered against themto put them in bondage for their two crimes.