1 E phraim’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.

Ephraim feedeth on wind, and followeth after the east wind: he continually multiplieth lies and desolation; and they make a covenant with Assyria, and oil is carried into Egypt.

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

Jehovah hath also a controversy with Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways; according to his doings will he recompense him.

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

In the womb he took his brother by the heel; and in his manhood he had power with God:

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

yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed; he wept, and made supplication unto him: he found him at Beth-el, and there he spake with us,

5 T his was the Lord, the God of All. The Lord is His name.

even Jehovah, the God of hosts; Jehovah is his memorial name.

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

Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep kindness and justice, and wait for thy God continually.

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

He is a trafficker, the balances of deceit are in his hand: he loveth to oppress.

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

And Ephraim said, Surely I am become rich, I have found me wealth: in all my labors they shall find in me no iniquity that were sin.

9 “ 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.

But I am Jehovah thy God from the land of Egypt; I will yet again make thee to dwell in tents, as in the days of the solemn feast.

10 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.”

I have also spoken unto the prophets, and I have multiplied visions; and by the ministry of the prophets have I used similitudes.

11 I s 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.

Is Gilead iniquity? they are altogether false; in Gilgal they sacrifice bullocks; yea, their altars are as heaps in the furrows of the field.

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

And Jacob fled into the field of Aram, and Israel served for a wife, and for a wife he kept sheep.

13 B y 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.

And by a prophet Jehovah brought Israel up out of Egypt, and by a prophet was he preserved.

14 B ut 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.

Ephraim hath provoked to anger most bitterly: therefore shall his blood be left upon him, and his reproach shall his Lord return unto him.