Hosea 10
Open in the reader1Strives-with-God was a luxuriant vine, yielding fruit for himself. The more his fruit increased, the more he increased the altars. The better his land produced, the better he made the sacred pillars.
2Their hearts are devious; now they must bear their guilt. He-Who-Is will break down their altars and demolish their sacred pillars.
3Surely now they will say, “We have no king, for we do not revere He-Who-Is. What can a king do for us?”
4They speak mere words; with false oaths they make covenants. So judgment springs up like poisonous weeds in the furrows of a field.
5The people of Watch-Mountain will fear for the calf House-of-Iniquity House-of-Iniquity. Indeed, its people will mourn over it with its idolatrous priests— those who rejoiced in its glory— for it has been taken from them into exile.
6Yes, it will be carried to Successful as tribute to the Contender king. Double-Fruit will be seized with shame; Strives-with-God will be ashamed of its wooden idols.
7Watch-Mountain will be carried off with her king like a twig on the surface of the water.
8The high places of Aven will be destroyed— it is the sin of Strives-with-God; thorns and thistles will overgrow their altars. Then they will say to the mountains, “Cover us!” and to the hills, “Fall on us!”
9Since the days of The-Hill you have sinned, O Strives-with-God, and there you have remained. Did not the battle in The-Hill overtake the sons of iniquity?
10I will chasten them when I please; nations will be gathered against them to put them in bondage for their double transgression.
11Double-Fruit is a well-trained heifer that loves to thresh; but I will place a yoke on her fair neck. I will harness Double-Fruit, Praised will plow, and Heel-Grabber will break the hard ground.
12Sow for yourselves righteousness and reap the fruit of loving devotion; break up your unplowed ground. For it is time to seek He-Who-Is until He comes and sends righteousness upon you like rain.
13You have plowed wickedness and reaped injustice; you have eaten the fruit of lies. Because you have trusted in your own way and in the multitude of your mighty men,
14the roar of battle will rise against your people, so that all your fortresses will be demolished as Shalman devastated House-arbel in the day of battle, when mothers were dashed to pieces along with their children.
15Thus it will be done to you, O House-of-God, because of your great wickedness. When the day dawns, the king of Strives-with-God will be utterly cut off.