^{1 Ref} The deceit of Ephraim and the false words of Israel are about me on every side. ...

^{2 Ref} Ephraim's food is the wind, and he goes after the east wind: deceit and destruction are increasing day by day; they make an agreement with Assyria, and take oil into Egypt.

^{3 Ref} The Lord has a cause against Judah, and will give punishment to Jacob for his ways; he will give him the reward of his acts.

^{4 Ref} In the body of his mother he took his brother by the foot, and in his strength he was fighting with God;

^{5 Ref} He had a fight with the angel and overcame him; he made request for grace to him with weeping; he came face to face with him in Beth-el and there his words came to him;

^{6 Ref} Even the Lord, the God of armies; the Lord is his name.

^{7 Ref} So then, come back to your God; keep mercy and right, and be waiting at all times on your God.

^{8 Ref} As for Canaan, the scales of deceit are in his hands; he takes pleasure in twisted ways.

^{9 Ref} And Ephraim said, Now I have got wealth and much property; in all my works no sin may be seen in me.

^{10 Ref} But I am the Lord your God from the land of Egypt; I will give you tents for your living-places again as in the days of the holy meeting.

^{11 Ref} My word came to the ears of the prophets and I gave them visions in great number, and by the mouths of the prophets I made use of comparisons.

^{12 Ref} In Gilead there is evil. They are quite without value; in Gilgal they make offerings of oxen; truly their altars are like masses of stones in the hollows of a ploughed field.

^{13 Ref} And Jacob went in flight into the field of Aram, and Israel became a servant for a wife, and for a wife he kept sheep.

^{14 Ref} And by a prophet the Lord made Israel come up out of Egypt, and by a prophet he was kept safe.

¹⁵ I have been bitterly moved to wrath by Ephraim; so that his blood will be on him, and the Lord will make his shame come back on him.

^{1 Ref} Ephraim is enjoying wind, And is pursuing an east wind, All the day lying and spoiling he multiplieth, And a covenant with Asshur they make, And oil to Egypt is carried.

^{2 Ref} And a controversy hath Jehovah with Judah, To lay a charge on Jacob according to his ways, According to his doings He returneth to him.

^{3 Ref} In the womb he took his brother by the heel, And by his strength he was a prince with God,

^{4 Ref} Yea, he is a prince unto the Messenger, And he overcometh `by' weeping, And he maketh supplication to Him, At Bethel He doth find him, And there He doth speak with us,

^{5 Ref} Even Jehovah, God of the Hosts, Jehovah `is' His memorial.

^{6 Ref} And thou, through thy God, dost turn, Kindness and judgment keep thou, And wait on thy God continually.

^{7 Ref} Canaan! in his hand `are' balances of deceit! To oppress he hath loved.

^{8 Ref} And Ephraim saith: `Surely I have become rich, I have found wealth for myself, All my labours -- they find not against me iniquity that `is' sin.'

^{9 Ref} And I -- Jehovah thy God from the land of Egypt, Again do I turn thee back into tents, As in the days of the appointed time.

^{10 Ref} And I have spoken unto the prophets, And I have multiplied vision, And by the hand of the prophets I use similes.

^{11 Ref} Surely Gilead `is' iniquity, Only, vanity they have been, In Gilead bullocks they have sacrificed, Also their altars `are' as heaps, on the furrows of a field.

^{12 Ref} And Jacob doth flee to the country of Aram, And Israel doth serve for a wife, Yea, for a wife he hath kept watch.

^{13 Ref} And by a prophet hath Jehovah brought up Israel out of Egypt, And by a prophet it hath been watched.

^{14 Ref} Ephraim hath provoked most bitterly, And his blood on himself he leaveth, And his reproach turn back to him doth his Lord!