1
"Ephraim a feeds on the wind,
And pursues the east wind;
He daily increases lies and 1 desolation.
b Also they make a 2 covenant with the Assyrians,
And c oil is carried to Egypt.
2
"The d LORD also brings a 3 charge against Judah,
And will punish Jacob according to his ways;
According to his deeds He will recompense him.
3
He took his brother e by the heel in the womb,
And in his strength he f struggled with God. 4
4
Yes, he struggled with the Angel and prevailed;
He wept, and sought favor from Him.
He found Him in g Bethel,
And there He spoke to us -
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That is, the LORD God of hosts.
The LORD is His h memorable name.
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i So you, by the help of your God, return;
Observe mercy and justice,
And wait on your God continually.
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"A cunning 5 Canaanite!
j Deceitful scales are in his hand;
He loves to oppress.
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And Ephraim said,
k 'Surely I have become rich,
I have found wealth for myself;
In all my labors
They shall find in me no iniquity that is sin.'
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"But I am the LORD your God,
Ever since the land of Egypt;
l I will again make you dwell in tents,
As in the days of the appointed feast.
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m I have also spoken by the prophets,
And have multiplied visions;
I have given 6 symbols 7 through the witness of the prophets."
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Though n Gilead has idols -
Surely they are 8 vanity -
Though they sacrifice bulls in o Gilgal,
Indeed their altars shall be heaps in the furrows of the field.
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Jacob p fled to the country of Syria;
q Israel served for a spouse,
And for a wife he tended sheep.
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r By a prophet the LORD brought Israel out of Egypt,
And by a prophet he was preserved.
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Ephraim s provoked Him to anger most bitterly;
Therefore his Lord will leave the guilt of his bloodshed upon him,
t And return his reproach upon him.