1 Israel is like a vinethat produced plenty of fruit.As the people became richer,they built more altars for idols.As their land became better,they put up better stone pillars to honor false gods.
2 Their heart was false.Now they must pay for their guilt.The Lord will break down their altars.He will destroy their holy stone pillars.
3 Then the Israelites will say, “We have no king,because we didn’t honor the Lord.But even if we had one,he couldn’t do anything for us.”
4 They make many false promises.They make agreements they don’t keep.So people sue each other in court.They are like poisonous weeds growing in a plowed field.
5 The people from Israel are worried aboutthe calf-shaped idol at Beth Aven.The people and the priests will crybecause their glorious idol is gone.
6 It will be carried off as a payment that was demandedto the great king of Assyria.Israel will be disgraced.The people will be ashamed of trusting that idol.