A reading from
the Book of the Prophet Hosea 10:1-3, 7-8, 12
Israel is a luxuriant vine/ whose fruit matches its growth./ The more abundant his fruit,/ the more altars he built;/ The more productive his land,/ the more sacred pillars he set up./ Their heart is false,/ now they pay for their guilt;/ God shall break down their altars/ and destroy their sacred pillars./ If they would say,/ “We have no king”—/ Since they do not fear the Lord,/ what can the king do for them?
The king of Samaria shall disappear,/ like foam upon the waters./ The high places of Aven shall be destroyed,/ the sin of Israel;/ thorns and thistles shall overgrow their altars./ Then they shall cry out to the mountains, “Cover us!”/ and to the hills, “Fall upon us!”
“Sow for yourselves justice,/ reap the fruit of piety;/ break up for yourselves a new field,/ for it is time to seek the Lord,/ till he come and rain down justice upon you.”
The word of the Lord.
