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.