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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 favour;

he met him at Bethel,

and there he spoke with him.

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 offence has been found in me

that would be sin.’

⁹I am the LORD your God

from the land of Egypt;

I will make you live in tents again,

as on 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.

¹¹In 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.

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

and by a prophet he was guarded.

¹⁴Ephraim has given bitter offence,

so his Lord will bring his crimes down on him

and pay him back for his insults.