Hosea

以色列是茂盛的葡萄樹，結果繁多。果子越多，就越增添祭壇；地土越肥美，就越造美麗的柱像。

Israel {is} an empty vine, he bringeth forth fruit unto himself: according to the multitude of his fruit he hath increased the altars; according to the goodness of his land they have made goodly images. {an...: or, a vine emptying the fruit which it giveth} {images: Heb. statues, or, standing images}

他們心懷二意，現今要定為有罪。耶和華必拆毀他們的祭壇，毀壞他們的柱像。

Their heart is divided; now shall they be found faulty: he shall break down their altars, he shall spoil their images. {Their heart...: or, He hath divided their heart} {break...: Heb. behead} {images: Heb. statues, or, standing images}

他們必說：我們沒有王，因為我們不敬畏耶和華。王能為我們做甚麼呢？

For now they shall say, We have no king, because we feared not the LORD; what then should a king do to us?

他們為立約說謊言，起假誓；因此，災罰如苦菜滋生在田間的犁溝中。

They have spoken words, swearing falsely in making a covenant: thus judgment springeth up as hemlock in the furrows of the field.

撒瑪利亞的居民必因伯亞文的牛犢驚恐；崇拜牛犢的民和喜愛牛犢的祭司都必因榮耀離開他，為他悲哀。

The inhabitants of Samaria shall fear because of the calves of Bethaven: for the people thereof shall mourn over it, and the priests thereof {that} rejoiced on it, for the glory thereof, because it is departed from it. {the priests...: or, Chemarim}

牛犢帶到亞述當作禮物，獻給耶雷布王。以法蓮必蒙羞；以色列必因自己的計謀慚愧。

It shall be also carried unto Assyria {for} a present to king Jareb: Ephraim shall receive shame, and Israel shall be ashamed of his own counsel.

至於撒瑪利亞，他的王必滅沒，如水面的沫子一樣。

{As for} Samaria, her king is cut off as the foam upon the water. {the water: Heb. the face of the water}

伯亞文的邱壇─就是以色列取罪的地方必被毀滅；荊棘和蒺藜必長在他們的祭壇上。他們必對大山說：遮蓋我們！對小山說：倒在我們身上！

The high places also of Aven, the sin of Israel, shall be destroyed: the thorn and the thistle shall come up on their altars; and they shall say to the mountains, Cover us; and to the hills, Fall on us.

以色列啊，你從基比亞的日子以來時常犯罪。你們的先人曾站在那裡，現今住基比亞的人以為攻擊罪孽之輩的戰事臨不到自己。

O Israel, thou hast sinned from the days of Gibeah: there they stood: the battle in Gibeah against the children of iniquity did not overtake them.

我必隨意懲罰他們。他們為兩樣的罪所纏；列邦的民必聚集攻擊他們。

{It is} in my desire that I should chastise them; and the people shall be gathered against them, when they shall bind themselves in their two furrows. {when...: or, when I shall bind them for their two transgressions, or, in their two habitations}

以法蓮是馴良的母牛犢，喜愛踹穀，我卻將軛加在他肥美的頸項上，我要使以法蓮拉套（或作：被騎）。猶大必耕田；雅各必耙地。

And Ephraim {is as} an heifer {that is} taught, {and} loveth to tread out {the corn}; but I passed over upon her fair neck: I will make Ephraim to ride; Judah shall plow, {and} Jacob shall break his clods. {her...: Heb. the beauty of her neck}

你們要為自己栽種公義，就能收割慈愛。現今正是尋求耶和華的時候；你們要開墾荒地，等他臨到，使公義如雨降在你們身上。

Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for {it is} time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.

你們耕種的是奸惡，收割的是罪孽，吃的是謊話的果子。因你倚靠自己的行為，仰賴勇士眾多，

Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit of lies: because thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men.

所以在這民中必有鬨嚷之聲，你一切的保障必被拆毀，就如沙勒幔在爭戰的日子拆毀伯亞比勒，將其中的母子一同摔死。

Therefore shall a tumult arise among thy people, and all thy fortresses shall be spoiled, as Shalman spoiled Betharbel in the day of battle: the mother was dashed in pieces upon {her} children.

因他們的大惡，伯特利必使你們遭遇如此。到了黎明，以色列的王必全然滅絕。

So shall Bethel do unto you because of your great wickedness: in a morning shall the king of Israel utterly be cut off. {your...: Heb. the evil of your evil}