¹ “Ephraim feeds on the wind,
And pursues the east wind;
He daily increases lies and desolation.
Also they make a covenant with the Assyrians,
And oil is carried to Egypt.
² “ The LORD also brings a charge against Judah,
And will punish Jacob according to his ways;
According to his deeds He will recompense him.
³ He took his brother by the heel in the womb,
And in his strength he struggled with God.^[a]
4 Yes, he struggled with the Angel and prevailed;
He wept, and sought favor from Him.
He found Him in Bethel,
And there He spoke to us—
⁵ That is, the LORD God of hosts.
The LORD is His memorable name.
⁶ So you, by the help of your God, return;
Observe mercy and justice,
And wait on your God continually.
⁷ “ A cunning Canaanite!
Deceitful scales are in his hand;
He loves to oppress.
⁸ And Ephraim said,

‘ 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.’
⁹ “ But I am the LORD your God,
Ever since the land of Egypt;
I will again make you dwell in tents,
As in the days of the appointed feast.
¹⁰ I have also spoken by the prophets,
And have multiplied visions;
I have given symbols through the witness of the prophets.”
¹¹ Though Gilead has idols—
Surely they are vanity—
Though they sacrifice bulls in Gilgal,
Indeed their altars shall be heaps in the furrows of the field.
¹² Jacob fled to the country of Syria;
Israel served for a spouse,
And for a wife he tended sheep.
¹³ By a prophet the LORD brought Israel out of Egypt,
And by a prophet he was preserved.
¹⁴ Ephraim provoked Him to anger most bitterly;
Therefore his Lord will leave the guilt of his bloodshed upon him,
And return his reproach upon him.