1 E phraim feeds on wind, And pursues the east wind continually; He multiplies lies and violence. Moreover, he makes a covenant with Assyria, And oil is carried to Egypt.

Ephraim’s food is the wind, he goes after the east wind all day long. He tells many lies and does much in his anger. He makes an agreement with Assyria and takes oil to Egypt.

2 T he Lord also has a dispute with Judah, And will punish Jacob according to his ways; He will repay him according to his deeds.

The Lord has a cause against Judah, and will punish Jacob for his ways. He will make him pay for what he has done.

3 I n the womb he took his brother by the heel, And in his maturity he contended with God.

Before he was born he took his brother by the heel. And when he was grown he fought with God.

4 Y es, he wrestled with the angel and prevailed; He wept and sought His favor. He found Him at Bethel And there He spoke with us,

He fought with the angel and won. He cried and begged for His favor. He met God at Bethel, and God spoke with him there.

5 E ven the Lord, the God of hosts, The Lord is His name.

This was the Lord, the God of All. The Lord is His name.

6 T herefore, return to your God, Observe kindness and justice, And wait for your God continually.

So return to your God. Show kindness and do what is fair, and wait for your God all the time.

7 A merchant, in whose hands are false balances, He loves to oppress.

One who buys and sells and who lies about the weight of things loves to make it hard for others.

8 A nd Ephraim said, “Surely I have become rich, I have found wealth for myself; In all my labors they will find in me No iniquity, which would be sin.”

Ephraim has said, “I have become rich. I have found riches for myself. With all my riches they will not find any sin in me.”

9 B ut 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.

“I am the Lord your God Who brought you out of Egypt. I will make you live in tents again, as in the days of your special suppers.

10 I have also spoken to the prophets, And I gave numerous visions, And through the prophets I gave parables.

I have spoken to the men who speak for Me. I have given many special dreams. And I gave picture-stories through the men who speak for Me.”

11 I s there iniquity in Gilead? Surely they are worthless. In Gilgal they sacrifice bulls, Yes, their altars are like the stone heaps Beside the furrows of the field.

Is there sin in Gilead? For sure its people are of no worth. In Gilgal they kill bulls in worship. Their altars are like the many stones laid beside a plowed field.

12 N ow Jacob fled to the land of Aram, And Israel worked for a wife, And for a wife he kept sheep.

Jacob ran away to the land of Aram. There he worked for a wife, and for a wife he kept sheep.

13 B ut by a prophet the Lord brought Israel from Egypt, And by a prophet he was kept.

By a man who spoke for Him, the Lord brought Israel from Egypt. And by a man who spoke for Him, the Lord cared for him.

14 E phraim has provoked to bitter anger; So his Lord will leave his bloodguilt on him And bring back his reproach to him.

But Ephraim has made the Lord very angry. So the Lord will leave on him the guilt of his blood, and make his shame return to him.