1`An empty vine [is] Israel, Fruit he maketh like to himself, According to the abundance of his fruit, He hath multiplied for the altars, According to the goodness of his land, They have made goodly standing-pillars.
2Their heart hath been divided, now they are guilty, He doth break down their altars, He doth destroy their standing-pillars.
3For now they say: We have no king, Because we have not feared Jehovah, And the king -- what doth he for us?
4They have spoken words, To swear falsehood in making a covenant, And flourished as a poisonous herb hath judgment, on the furrows of a field.
5For the calves of Beth-Aven fear do inhabitants of Samaria, Surely mourned on account of it hath its people, And its priests on account of it leap about, Because of its honour, for it hath removed from it,
6Also it to Asshur is carried, a present to a warlike king, Shame doth Ephraim receive, And ashamed is Israel of its own counsel.
7Cut off is Samaria! Its king [is] as a chip on the face of the waters.
