1 Ephraim feeds on the wind

and follows after the east wind.

He continually multiplies lies and violence.

They make a covenant with Assyria

and carry olive oil to Egypt.

2 Yahweh also has a lawsuit against Judah

and will punish Jacob for what he has done;

he will repay him for his deeds.

3 In the womb Jacob grasped his brother by the heel,

and in his manhood he struggled with God.

4 He struggled with the angel and won.

He wept and begged for his favor.

He met God at Bethel;

there God spoke with him.

5 This is Yahweh, the God of hosts;

“Yahweh” is his name to be called on.

6 So turn to your God.

Keep covenantal faithfulness and justice,

and wait continually for your God.

7 The merchants have false scales in their hands;

they love to defraud.

8 Ephraim said, “I have certainly become very rich;

I have found wealth for myself.

In all my work they will not find any iniquity in me,

anything that would be sin.”

9 “I am Yahweh your God from the land of Egypt.

I will again make you live in tents,

as in the days of the appointed festival.

10 I spoke to the prophets,

and I gave them many visions for you.

By the hand of the prophets I gave parables.”

11 If there is wickedness in Gilead,

surely the people are worthless.

In Gilgal they sacrifice bulls;

their altars will be like heaps of stone in the furrows of the fields.

12 Jacob fled to the land of Aram;

Israel worked in order to get a wife;

and he kept flocks of sheep to get a wife.

13 Yahweh brought Israel out of Egypt by a prophet,

and by a prophet he took care of them.

14 Ephraim has bitterly angered Yahweh.

So his Lord will leave his blood on him

and will turn back on him his disgrace.