1 Ephraim feeds on the wind;
he pursues the east wind all day
and multiplies lies and violence.
He makes a treaty with Assyria
and sends olive oil to Egypt. |
2 The LORD has a charge to bring against Judah;
he will punish Jacob1 12:2 Jacob means he grasps the heel (figuratively, he deceives ). according to his ways
and repay him according to his deeds. |
3 In the womb he grasped his brother's heel;
as a man he struggled with God. |
4 He struggled with the angel and overcame him;
he wept and begged for his favor.
He found him at Bethel
and talked with him there- |
5 the LORD God Almighty,
the LORD is his name of renown! |
6 But you must return to your God;
maintain love and justice,
and wait for your God always. |
7 The merchant uses dishonest scales;
he loves to defraud. |
8 Ephraim boasts,
"I am very rich; I have become wealthy.
With all my wealth they will not find in me
any iniquity or sin." |
9 "I am the LORD your God,
who brought you out of2 12:9 Or God / ever since you were in Egypt;
I will make you live in tents again,
as in the days of your appointed feasts. |
10 I spoke to the prophets,
gave them many visions
and told parables through them." |
11 Is Gilead wicked?
Its people are worthless!
Do they sacrifice bulls in Gilgal?
Their altars will be like piles of stones
on a plowed field. |
12 Jacob fled to the country of Aram3 12:12 That is, Northwest Mesopotamia ;
Israel served to get a wife,
and to pay for her he tended sheep. |
13 The LORD used a prophet to bring Israel up from Egypt,
by a prophet he cared for him. |
14 But Ephraim has bitterly provoked him to anger;
his Lord will leave upon him the guilt of his bloodshed
and will repay him for his contempt. |
