⁵ The people who live in Samaria fear
    for the calf-idol^(A) of Beth Aven.^[a](B)
Its people will mourn over it,
    and so will its idolatrous priests,^(C)
those who had rejoiced over its splendor,
    because it is taken from them into exile.^(D)
6 It will be carried to Assyria^(E)
    as tribute^(F) for the great king.^(G)
Ephraim will be disgraced;^(H)
    Israel will be ashamed^(I) of its foreign alliances.
⁷ Samaria’s king will be destroyed,^(J)
    swept away like a twig on the surface of the waters.
⁸ The high places^(K) of wickedness^[b](L) will be destroyed—
    it is the sin of Israel.
Thorns^(M) and thistles will grow up
    and cover their altars.^(N)
Then they will say to the mountains, “Cover us!”^(O)
    and to the hills, “Fall on us!”^(P)

¹⁴ the roar of battle will rise against your people,
    so that all your fortresses will be devastated^(A)—
as Shalman^(B) devastated Beth Arbel on the day of battle,
    when mothers were dashed to the ground with their children.^(C)
15 So will it happen to you, Bethel,
    because your wickedness is great.
When that day dawns,
    the king of Israel will be completely destroyed.^(D)

⁵     do not seek Bethel,
do not go to Gilgal,^(A)
    do not journey to Beersheba.^(B)
For Gilgal will surely go into exile,
    and Bethel will be reduced to nothing.^[a](C)”
⁶ Seek^(D) the Lord and live,^(E)
    or he will sweep through the tribes of Joseph like a fire;^(F)
it will devour them,
    and Bethel^(G) will have no one to quench it.^(H)