"[As for] those who swearby the guiltof Samaria,Who say,'As your godlives,O Dan,'And, 'As the wayof Beershebalives,'They will falland not riseagain."
Jeroboaminstituteda feastin the eighthmonthon the fifteenthdayof the month,like the feastwhichis in Judah,and he wentup to the altar;thushe didin Bethel,sacrificingto the calveswhichhe had made.And he stationedin Bethelthe priestsof the highplaceswhichhe had made.
"He will giveup Israelon accountof the sinsof Jeroboam,whichhe committedand with whichhe made Israelto sin."
He boughtthe hillSamariafrom Shemerfor two talentsof silver;and he builton the hill,and namedthe citywhichhe builtSamaria,afterthe nameof Shemer,the ownerof the hill.
However,[as for] the sinsof Jeroboamthe sonof Nebat,whichhe made Israelsin,from these Jehudid not depart,[even] the goldencalvesthat [were] at Betheland that [were] at Dan.
but they [continually] mockedthe messengersof God,despisedHis wordsand scoffedat His prophets,untilthe wrathof the LORDaroseagainst His people,untiltherewas noremedy.
"May burningcoalsfallupon them; May they be castinto the fire,Into deeppitsfrom which they cannotrise.
Therethe doersof iniquityhave fallen;They have been thrustdownand cannotrise.
For a righteousmanfallsseventimes,and risesagain, But the wickedstumblein [time of] calamity.
A manwho hardens[his] neckafter much reproofWill suddenlybe brokenbeyondremedy.
The earthreelsto and frolike a drunkardAnd it totterslike a shack,For its transgressionis heavyupon it, And it will fall,neverto riseagain.
Who bringsforththe chariotand the horse,The armyand the mightyman(They will liedowntogether[and] not riseagain; They have been quenched[and] extinguishedlike a wick):
"You shall sayto them, 'Thussaysthe LORDof hosts,the Godof Israel,"Drink,be drunk,vomit,falland risenomore becauseof the swordwhichI will sendamongyou."'
and say,'Justsoshall Babylonsinkdownand not riseagain becauseof the calamitythat I am going to bringupon her; and they will becomeexhausted.'"Thusfarare the wordsof Jeremiah.
The inhabitantsof Samariawill fearFor the calfof Beth-aven.Indeed,its peoplewill mournfor it, And its idolatrouspriestswill cryout overit, Overits glory,sinceit has departedfrom it.
Samariawill be heldguilty,For she has rebelledagainst her God.They will fallby the sword,Their littleoneswill be dashedin pieces,And their pregnantwomenwill be rippedopen.
And nowthey sinmoreand more,And makefor themselves moltenimages,Idolsskillfullymade from their silver,Allof them the workof craftsmen.They sayof them, "Let the menwho sacrificekissthe calves!"
Thoughyou, Israel,playthe harlot,Do not let Judahbecomeguilty;Also do not goto Gilgal,Or goup to Beth-avenAnd takethe oath:"As the LORDlives!"
HearthiswordwhichI takeup for you as a dirge,O houseof Israel:
She has fallen,she will not riseagain--The virginIsrael.She [lies] neglectedon her land;Thereis noneto raiseher up.
"But do not resortto BethelAnd do not cometo Gilgal,Norcrossoverto Beersheba;For Gilgalwill certainlygointo captivityAnd Bethelwill cometo trouble.
Allthisis for the rebellionof JacobAnd for the sinsof the houseof Israel.Whatis the rebellionof Jacob?Is it not Samaria?Whatis the highplaceof Judah?Is it not Jerusalem?
"And those who bowdownon the housetopsto the hostof heaven,And those who bowdown[and] swearto the LORDand [yet] swearby Milcom,
This manhad beeninstructedin the wayof the Lord;and being ferventin spirit,he was speakingand teachingaccuratelythe things concerningJesus,being acquaintedonlywith the baptismof John;
Aboutthat timethere occurrednosmalldisturbanceconcerningthe Way.
But whensomewere becoming hardenedand disobedient,speaking evilof the Waybeforethe people,he withdrewfrom them and took awaythe disciples,reasoningdailyin the schoolof Tyrannus.
"But thisI admitto you, that accordingto the Waywhichthey calla sectI do servethe Godof our fathers,believingeverythingthat is in accordancewith the Lawand that is writtenin the Prophets;
and askedfor lettersfrom him to the synagoguesat Damascus,sothat ifhe foundanybelongingto the Way,bothmenand women,he might bringthem boundto Jerusalem.
"O LORD,blesshis substance,And acceptthe workof his hands;Shatterthe loinsof those who riseup against him, And those who hatehim, sothat they will not rise[again]."
"I tookyour sinful[thing], the calfwhichyou had made,and burnedit with fireand crushedit, grindingit verysmalluntilit was as fineas dust;and I threwits dustinto the brookthat camedownfrom the mountain.
