29 The is unintelligible: עַל־טוּב (’al-tuv, “upon a fine [thing]”?). Cf. “I passed over upon her fair neck”; “I spared her fair neck.” The editors suggest the revocalization עֹל־טוּב (’ol-tuv, “a fine yoke”), followed by many modern English versions (e.g., , , , , , ). The noun עֹל (’ol, “yoke”) also appears in 11:4 in a metaphor which compares Israel to a young heifer as well.
30 Or “Judah will plow” (so ); , , “Judah must plow.”
31 Or “Jacob will break up.”

In other versions

Ephraim was a trained calf

that loved to thresh,

and I spared her fair neck;

but I will put Ephraim to the yoke;

Judah must plow;

Jacob must harrow for himself.

Ephraim is a trained heifer

that loves to thresh;

so I will put a yoke

on her fair neck.

I will drive Ephraim,

Judah must plow,

and Jacob must break up the ground.

Ephraim is a well-trained calf

that loves to thresh,

but I will place a yoke on her fine neck.

I will harness Ephraim;

Judah will plow;

Jacob will do the final plowing.

“Israel is like a trained heifer treading out the grain—

an easy job she loves.

But I will put a heavy yoke on her tender neck.

I will force Judah to pull the plow

and Israel to break up the hard ground.

Ephraim was a trained heifer,

that loved to thresh grain,

and I myself spared

the fairness of her neck;

I will make Ephraim break the ground,

Judah will plow,

Jacob must till for himself.

And Ephraim is as an heifer that is taught, and loveth to tread out the corn;

But I passed over upon her fair neck:

I will make Ephraim to ride;

Judah shall plow,

And Jacob shall break his clods.

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