¹ Ephraim¹ chases the wind and pursues the east wind all day long; he multiplies lies and violence; he makes a covenant with Assyria and sends olive oil to Egypt.

1. That is, the northern kingdom of Israel; also in verses 8 and 14

² The LORD also brings a charge against Judah. He will punish Jacob¹ according to his ways and repay him according to his deeds.

1. Jacob means he grasps the heel or he deceives.

³ In the womb he grasped his brother’s heel, and in his vigor he wrestled with God.

⁴ Yes, he struggled with the angel¹ and prevailed; he wept and sought His favor; he found Him at Bethel and spoke with Him there²—

1. Or Angel
2. LXX and Syriac; MT and there He spoke with us

⁵ the LORD is the God of Hosts— the LORD is His name of renown.

⁶ But you must return to your God, maintaining love and justice, and always waiting on your God.

⁷ A merchant loves to defraud with dishonest scales in his hands.

⁸ And Ephraim boasts: “How rich I have become! I have found wealth for myself. In all my labors, they can find in me no iniquity that is sinful.”

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 spoke through the prophets and multiplied their visions; I gave parables through the prophets.

¹¹ Is there iniquity in Gilead? They will surely come to nothing. Do they sacrifice bulls in Gilgal? Indeed, their altars will be heaps of stones in the furrows of the field.

¹² Jacob fled to the land of Aram¹ and Israel worked for a wife— for a wife he tended sheep.

1. That is, northwest Mesopotamia

¹³ But by a prophet the LORD brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet he was preserved.

¹⁴ Ephraim has provoked bitter anger, so his Lord will leave his bloodguilt upon him and repay him for his contempt.