They speak mere words,
[a]With (A)worthless oaths they make covenants;
And (B)judgment sprouts like poisonous weeds in the furrows of the field.
The inhabitants of Samaria will fear
For the [b](C)calf of (D)Beth-aven.
Indeed, its people will mourn for it,
And its (E)idolatrous priests [c]will cry out over it,
Over its (F)glory, since it has departed from it.
The thing itself will be carried to (G)Assyria
As tribute to [d](H)King Jareb;
Ephraim will [e]be (I)seized with shame
And Israel will be ashamed of its (J)own counsel.

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Footnotes

  1. Hosea 10:4 Or Swearing falsely in making a covenant
  2. Hosea 10:5 So with some ancient versions; Heb calves
  3. Hosea 10:5 Or who used to rejoice over
  4. Hosea 10:6 Or the avenging king or the great king
  5. Hosea 10:6 Lit receive shame

They make many promises,
    take false oaths(A)
    and make agreements;(B)
therefore lawsuits spring up
    like poisonous weeds(C) in a plowed field.
The people who live in Samaria fear
    for the calf-idol(D) of Beth Aven.[a](E)
Its people will mourn over it,
    and so will its idolatrous priests,(F)
those who had rejoiced over its splendor,
    because it is taken from them into exile.(G)
It will be carried to Assyria(H)
    as tribute(I) for the great king.(J)
Ephraim will be disgraced;(K)
    Israel will be ashamed(L) of its foreign alliances.

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Footnotes

  1. Hosea 10:5 Beth Aven means house of wickedness (a derogatory name for Bethel, which means house of God).