1 Ephraim and Judah are both reproved. 3 In consideration of God's former favours to Jacob they are exhorted to repent. 7 Ephraim's sins and ingratitude provoke God.
1. Ephraim feedeth on awind, and followeth after the east wind: bhe daily increaseth lies and desolation; and cthey do make a covenant with the Assyrians, and doil is carried into Egypt.
2. eThe LORD hath also a controversy with Judah, and will 1punish Jacob according to his ways; according to his fdoings will he recompense him.
3. ¶He took his brother gby the heel in the womb, and by his strength hhe 2had power with God:
4. Yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed: he wept, and made supplication unto him: he found him in iBeth-el, and there he spake jwith us;
5. Even the LORD God of hosts; the LORD is his kmemorial.
6. lTherefore turn thou to thy God: keep mercy and judgment, and wait on thy God continually.
7. ¶He is 3a merchant, the mbalances of deceit are in his hand: he loveth to 4oppress.
8. And Ephraim said, nYet I am become rich, I have found me out substance: 5in all my labours they shall find none iniquity in me 6that were sin.
9. And I othat am the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt pwill yet make thee to dwell in *tabernacles, as in the days of the solemn feast.
10. I have also qspoken by the prophets, and I have multiplied visions, and used rsimilitudes, 7by the ministry of the prophets.
11. sIs there iniquity in Gilead? surely they are vanity: they sacrifice bullocks in Gilgal; yea, ttheir altars are as heaps in the furrows of the fields.
12. And Jacob ufled into the country of Syria, and Israel served for a wife, and for a wife he kept sheep.
13. vAnd by a prophet the LORD brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet was he preserved.
14. wEphraim provoked him to anger 8most bitterly: xtherefore shall he leave his 9blood upon him, and his yreproach shall his Lord return unto him.
Ephraim feedeth on wind, and followeth after the east wind: he daily increaseth lies and desolation; and they do make a covenant with the Assyrians, and oil is carried into Egypt. The LORD hath also a controversy with Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways; according to his doings will he recompense him. ¶He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and by his strength he had power with God: Yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed: he wept, and made supplication unto him: he found him in Beth-el, and there he spake with us; Even the LORD God of hosts; the LORD is his memorial. Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep mercy and judgment, and wait on thy God continually. ¶He is a merchant, the balances of deceit are in his hand: he loveth to oppress. And Ephraim said, Yet I am become rich, I have found me out substance: in all my labours they shall find none iniquity in me that were sin. And I that am the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt will yet make thee to dwell in tabernacles, as in the days of the solemn feast. I have also spoken by the prophets, and I have multiplied visions, and used similitudes, by the ministry of the prophets. Is there iniquity in Gilead? surely they are vanity: they sacrifice bullocks in Gilgal; yea, their altars are as heaps in the furrows of the fields. And Jacob fled into the country of Syria, and Israel served for a wife, and for a wife he kept sheep. And by a prophet the LORD brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet was he preserved. Ephraim provoked him to anger most bitterly: therefore shall he leave his blood upon him, and his reproach shall his Lord return unto him.