A reading from the book of Hosea.

Israel is a luxuriant vine that yields its fruit.

The more his fruit increased, the more altars he built.

As his country improved, he improved his pillars.

Their heart is false.

Now they must bear their guilt. The Lord will break down their altars

and destroy their pillars. For now they will say, we have no king. For we do not fear the

Lord and a king, what could he do for us? They utter mere words. With empty oaths they make covenants. So judgment springs up like poisonous

weeds in the furrows of the field. The inhabitants of Samaria tremble for the calf of Beth-Avon.

Its people mourn for it, and so do its idolatrous priests, those who rejoiced over it and over its glory, for it has

departed from them. The thing itself shall be carried to Assyria as tribute to the great king.

Ephraim shall be put to shame, and Israel shall be ashamed of his idol.

Samaria's king shall perish like a twig on the face of the waters. The high places of

Avon, the sin of Israel, shall be destroyed. Thorn and thistles shall grow up on their altars,

and they shall say to the mountains, cover us, and to the hills, fall on us. From the days of Ghibia you have sinned,

O Israel, there they have continued, shall not the war against the unjust overtake them in Gibia.

When I please, I will discipline them, and nations shall be gathered against them when they are bound

up for their double iniquity.

Ephraim was a trained calf that loved to Thresh, and I spared her fair neck.

But I will put Ephraim to the yoke.

Judah must plow.

Jacob must harrow for himself.

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