1 Ephraim feeds on wind, And pursues the east wind continually; He multiplies lies and violence. Moreover, he makes a covenant with Assyria, And oil is brought to Egypt.
2 The LORD also has a case against Judah, And will punish Jacob according to his ways; He will repay him according to his deeds.
3 In the womb he took his brother by the heel, And in his mature strength he contended with God.
4 Yes, he wrestled with the angel and prevailed; He wept and implored His favor. He found Him at Bethel, And there He spoke with us,
5 And the LORD, the God of armies, The LORD is His name.
6 So as for you, return to your God, Maintain kindness and justice, And wait for your God continually.
7 A merchant, in whose hands are fraudulent balances, Loves to exploit.
8 And Ephraim said, “I have certainly become rich, I have found wealth for myself; In all my labors they will find in me No wrongdoing, which would be sin.”
9 But I have been the LORD your God since the land of Egypt; I will make you live in tents again, As in the days of the appointed festival.
10 I have also spoken to the prophets, And I provided many visions, And through the prophets I spoke in parables.
11 Is there injustice in Gilead? Certainly they are worthless. In Gilgal they sacrifice bulls, Yes, their altars are like stone heaps Beside the furrows of a field.
12 Now Jacob fled to the land of Aram, And Israel worked for a wife, And for a wife he kept sheep.
13 But by a prophet the LORD brought Israel up from Egypt, And by a prophet he was protected.
14 Ephraim has provoked God to bitter anger; So his Lord will leave his guilt for bloodshed on him And bring his disgrace back to him.