1Israel is a branching vine, full of fruit; as his fruit is increased, so the number of his altars is increased; as the land is fair, so they have made fair pillars.
2Their mind is taken away; now they will be made waste: he will have their altars broken down, he will give their pillars to destruction.
3Now, truly, they will say, We have no king, we have no fear of the Lord; and the king, what is he able to do for us?
4Their words are foolish; they make agreements with false oaths, so punishment will come up like a poison-plant in a ploughed field.
5The people of Samaria will be full of fear because of the ox of Beth-aven; its people will have sorrow for it, and its priests will give cries of grief for its glory, for the glory has gone in flight.
6And they will take it to Assyria and give it to the great king; shame will come on Ephraim, and Israel will be shamed because of its image.
7As for Samaria, her king is cut off, like mist on the water.
