1Ephraim herds the wind

and pursues the east wind all day long;

they multiply falsehood and violence;

they make a treaty with Assyria,

and oil is carried to Egypt.*

2The Lord has an indictment against Judah

and will punish Jacob according to his ways

and repay him according to his deeds.*

3In the womb he tried to supplant his brother,

and in his manhood he strove with God.*

4He strove with the angel and prevailed;

he wept and sought his favor;

he met him at Bethel,

and there he spoke with him.g^,*

5The Lord the God of hosts,

the Lord is his name!

6But as for you, return to your God;

hold fast to love and justice,

and wait continually for your God.*

7A trader in whose hands are false balances,

he loves to oppress.*

8Ephraim has said, “Ah, I am rich;

I have gained wealth for myself;

in all of my gain

no offense has been found in me

that would be sin.”h^,*

9I am the Lord your God

from the land of Egypt;

I will make you live in tents again,

as in the days of the appointed festival.*

10I spoke to the prophets;

it was I who multiplied visions,

and through the prophets I will bring destruction.*

11Ini Gilead there is iniquity;

they shall surely come to nothing.

In Gilgal they sacrifice bulls,

so their altars shall be like stone heaps

on the furrows of the field.*

12Jacob fled to the land of Aram;

there Israel served for a wife,

and for a wife he guarded sheep.j^,*

13By a prophet the Lord brought Israel up from Egypt,

and by a prophet he was guarded.*

14Ephraim has given bitter offense,

so his Lord will bring his crimes down on him

and pay him back for his insults.*