Hosea 10:1-7

Israel was once like a lush vine that produced plenty of grapes. Yet the more his fruit increased, the more pagan altars he built. The more abundantly his land increased, the more abundant were his sacred fertility pillars. Israel’s devotion is false and divided; soon the people must pay the penalty for their guilt. will demolish their altars and shatter their sacred pillars. Then they will say, “We have lost our king because we have not feared YAHWEH, but what could a human king do for us anyway?” All they do is make empty speeches, phony promises, and useless treaties. Their so-called justice spreads like poisonous weeds among the furrows of the fields. Samaria’s citizens will tremble and mourn over the loss of their sacred calves of Bethel. Everyone will wail over its loss along with their idolatrous priests because their “glory” has gone into exile. They will carry the calf-idol to Assyria as tribute to the great king. Ephraim will reap the shame. What a disgrace for Israel! Samaria—your king has had his day. Your king will disappear like a twig on the surface of the waters.