12 “Eʹphra·im is feeding on wind.
He chases after the east wind all day long.
He multiplies lies and violence.
They make a covenant with As·syrʹi·a+ and take oil to Egypt.+
2 Jehovah has a legal case against Judah;+
He will call for an accounting against Jacob according to his ways,
And he will repay him according to his deeds.+
3 In the womb he seized his brother by the heel,+
And with his vigor he contended with God.+
4 He kept contending with an angel and prevailed.
He wept and begged for his favor.”+
He found him at Bethʹel, and there He spoke with us,+
5 Jehovah the God of armies,+
Jehovah is his memorial name.+
6 “So return to your God,+
Maintain loyal love and justice,+
And always hope in your God.
7 But in the hand of the tradesman are deceptive scales;
He loves to defraud.+
8 Eʹphra·im keeps saying, ‘Indeed, I have become rich;+
I have found wealth.+
And in all my toil, they will not find anything wrong or sinful.’
9 But I am Jehovah your God from the land of Egypt.+
I will again make you dwell in tents
As in the days of an appointed time.
10 I spoke to the prophets,+
I multiplied their visions,
And I spoke parables through the prophets.
11 With Gilʹe·ad there has been deception+ and untruth.
In Gilʹgal they have sacrificed bulls,+
And their altars are like piles of stones in the furrows of the field.+
12 Jacob ran away to the territory of Aʹram;+
Israel+ served there for a wife,+
And for a wife he guarded sheep.+
13 By a prophet Jehovah brought Israel up from Egypt,+
And by a prophet he was guarded.+
14 Eʹphra·im has caused bitter offense;+
His bloodguilt remains on him;
His Lord will repay him for his reproach.”+