¹Ephraim feedeth on wind, and pursueth after the east wind: all day long he multiplieth lies and desolation; and they make a covenant with Assyria, and oil is carried into Egypt. ²Jehovah hath also a controversy with Judah, and he will punish Jacob according to his ways; according to his doings will he recompense him. ³He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and in his strength he wrestled with God. ⁴Yea, he wrestled with the Angel, and prevailed; he wept, and made supplication unto him: he found him in Bethel, and there he spoke with us, ⁵—even Jehovah, the God of hosts, —Jehovah is his memorial. ⁶And thou, return unto thy God: keep loving-kindness and judgment, and wait on thy God continually.

⁷He is a merchant, balances of deceit are in his hand; he loveth to oppress. ⁸And Ephraim saith, Nevertheless I am become rich, I have found me out substance; in all my labours they shall find none iniquity in me that were sin. ⁹But I that am Jehovah thy God from the land of Egypt will again make thee to dwell in tents, as in the days of the solemn feast. ¹⁰And I have spoken to the prophets, and I have multiplied visions, and by means of the prophets have I used similitudes. ¹¹If Gilead is iniquity, surely they are but vanity: they sacrifice bullocks in Gilgal; yea, their altars are as heaps in the furrows of the fields. ¹²And Jacob fled into the country of Syria, and Israel served for a wife, and for a wife he kept sheep. ¹³And by a prophet Jehovah brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet was he preserved. ¹⁴Ephraim provoked him to anger most bitterly; and his Lord shall leave his blood upon him, and recompense unto him his reproach.

Read in Logos

Public Domain