for their mother has played the harlot. She who conceived them has done shamefully, for she said, I will go after my lovers, who give me my bread and my water, my wool and my flax, my oil and my drink.

And I will lay waste her vines and her fig trees, of which she has said, These are my hire that my lovers have given me. And I will make them a forest, and the beasts of the field shall eat them.

Hear the word of LORD, ye sons of Israel, for LORD has a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor goodness, nor knowledge of God in the land.

My people ask counsel at their stock, and their staff declares to them, for the spirit of whoredom has caused them to err, and they have played the harlot, [departing] from under their God.

For Israel has behaved himself stubbornly, like a stubborn heifer. Now LORD will feed them as a lamb in a large place.

Their drink has become sour. They play the harlot continually. Her rulers dearly love shame.

The wind has wrapped her up in its wings, and they shall be put to shame because of their sacrifices.

They shall go with their flocks and with their herds to seek LORD, but they shall not find him. He has withdrawn himself from them.

Come, and let us return to LORD, for he has torn, and he will heal us. He has smitten, and he will bind us up.

When they shall go, I will spread my net upon them. I will bring them down as the birds of the heavens. I will chastise them, as their congregation has heard.

Israel has cast off that which is good. The enemy shall pursue him.

He has cast off thy calf, O Samaria. MY anger is kindled against them. How long will it be ere they attain to innocence?

For they sow the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind. He has no standing grain. The blade shall yield no meal. If so be it yields, strangers shall swallow it up.

For they have gone up to Assyria [like] a wild donkey alone by himself. Ephraim has hired lovers.

Because Ephraim has multiplied altars for sinning, altars have been to him for sinning.

For Israel has forgotten his maker, and built palaces. And Judah has multiplied fortified cities. But I will send a fire upon his cities, and it shall devour the castles thereof.

Israel is a luxuriant vine that puts forth his fruit. According to the abundance of his fruit he has multiplied his altars. According to the goodness of their land they have made goodly pillars.

The inhabitants of Samaria shall be in terror for the calves of Beth-aven. For the people of it shall mourn over it, and the priests of it, who rejoiced over it for the glory of it, because it has departed from it.

LORD has also a controversy with Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways. He will recompense him according to his doings.

Ephraim has provoked to anger most bitterly. Therefore his blood shall be left upon him, and his reproach his LORD shall return to him.

Samaria shall bear her guilt, for she has rebelled against her God. They shall fall by the sword. Their infants shall be dashed in pieces, and their women with child shall be ripped up.