[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.
