1 ¶ Ephraim feeds on wind and follows after the east wind; he daily increases lies and desolation because they made a covenant with the Assyrians, and the oil is carried into Egypt.

Ephraim is enjoying wind, And is pursuing an east wind, All the day lying and spoiling he multiplieth, And a covenant with Asshur they make, And oil to Egypt is carried.

2 T he LORD also has a controversy with Judah to visit Jacob according to his ways; according to his doings will he recompense him.

And a controversy hath Jehovah with Judah, To lay a charge on Jacob according to his ways, According to his doings He returneth to him.

3 H e took his brother by the heel in the womb, and with his strength he overcame the angel;

In the womb he took his brother by the heel, And by his strength he was a prince with God,

4 y ea, he dominated the angel and prevailed; he wept and made supplication unto him; he found him in Bethel, and there he spoke with us;

Yea, he is a prince unto the Messenger, And he overcometh weeping, And he maketh supplication to Him, At Bethel He doth find him, And there He doth speak with us,

5 b ut the LORD is God of the hosts; the LORD is his memorial.

Even Jehovah, God of the Hosts, Jehovah His memorial.

6 T herefore be thou converted unto thy God; keep mercy and judgment, and in thy God wait continually.

And thou, through thy God, dost turn, Kindness and judgment keep thou, And wait on thy God continually.

7 ¶ He is a merchant who has the balances of deceit in his hand; he loves to oppress.

Canaan! in his hand balances of deceit! To oppress he hath loved.

8 A nd Ephraim said, Surely I have become rich, I have found riches for myself; no one shall find iniquity in me, nor sin in all my labours.

And Ephraim saith: `Surely I have become rich, I have found wealth for myself, All my labours -- they find not against me iniquity that sin.'

9 B ut I am the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt; I will yet make thee to dwell in tents as in the days of the solemn feast.

And I -- Jehovah thy God from the land of Egypt, Again do I turn thee back into tents, As in the days of the appointed time.

10 I have also spoken by the prophets, and I have multiplied visions, and used similitudes, by the hand of the prophets.

And I have spoken unto the prophets, And I have multiplied vision, And by the hand of the prophets I use similes.

11 I s Gilead iniquity? surely they are vanity: they sacrifice bullocks in Gilgal; yea, their altars are as heaps in the furrows of the fields.

Surely Gilead iniquity, Only, vanity they have been, In Gilead bullocks they have sacrificed, Also their altars as heaps, on the furrows of a field.

12 B ut Jacob fled into the land of Aram, and Israel served for his wife, and for his wife he was a pastor.

And Jacob doth flee to the country of Aram, And Israel doth serve for a wife, Yea, for a wife he hath kept watch.

13 A nd by a prophet the LORD brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet he was preserved.

And by a prophet hath Jehovah brought up Israel out of Egypt, And by a prophet it hath been watched.

14 E phraim provoked God to anger with bitterness: therefore his blood shall be spilled upon him, and his reproach shall his Lord repay unto him.

Ephraim hath provoked most bitterly, And his blood on himself he leaveth, And his reproach turn back to him doth his Lord!