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 carried to Egypt. ² The LORD also has a dispute with 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 maturity he contended with God. ⁴ Yes, he wrestled with the angel and prevailed;
He wept and sought His favor.
He found Him at Bethel
And there He spoke with us, ⁵ Even the LORD, the God of hosts,
The LORD is His name. ⁶ Therefore, return to your God,
Observe kindness and justice,
And wait for your God continually. ⁷ A merchant, in whose hands are false balances,
He loves to oppress. ⁸ And 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.” 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 gave numerous visions,
And through the prophets I gave parables. ¹¹ Is 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. 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 from Egypt,
And by a prophet he was kept. ¹⁴ Ephraim has provoked to bitter anger;
So his Lord will leave his bloodguilt on him
And bring back his reproach to him.