Ephraim feeds on the wind
and pursues athe east wind all day long;
they multiply bfalsehood and violence;
cthey make a covenant with Assyria,
and doil is carried to Egypt.
The Lord’s Indictment of Israel and Judah
2 aThe Lord has an indictment against Judah
and will punish Jacob according to his ways;
he will repay him according to his deeds.
3 aIn the womb he took his brother by the heel,
and in his manhood he strove with God.
4 He strove with the angel and prevailed;
he wept and sought his favor.
aHe met God at Bethel,
and there God spoke with us—
5 the Lord, the God of hosts,
athe Lord is his memorial name:
6 “So you, aby the help of your God, return,
bhold fast to love and justice,
and wait continually for your God.”
7 A merchant, in whose hands are afalse balances,
he loves bto oppress.
8 Ephraim has said, “Ah, but aI am rich;
I have found wealth for myself;
in all my labors bthey cannot find in me iniquity or sin.”
9 aI am the Lord your God
from the land of Egypt;
I will again make you bdwell in tents,
as in the days of the appointed feast.
10 aI spoke to the prophets;
it was I who multiplied bvisions,
and through the prophets gave parables.
11 aIf there is iniquity in Gilead,
they shall surely come to nothing:
bin Gilgal they sacrifice bulls;
ctheir altars also are like stone heaps
don the furrows of the field.
12 aJacob fled to the land of Aram;
there Israel bserved for a wife,
and for a wife he guarded sheep.
13 By aa prophet bthe Lord brought Israel up from Egypt,
and by a prophet he was guarded.
14 aEphraim has given bitter provocation;
so his Lord bwill leave his bloodguilt on him
cand will repay him for his disgraceful deeds.