1 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. 2 The LORD hath also a controversy with Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways; according to his doings will he recompense him.

3 He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and by his strength he had power with God: 4 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; 5 Even the LORD God of hosts; the LORD is his memorial. 6 Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep mercy and judgment, and wait on thy God continually.

7 He is a merchant, the balances of deceit are in his hand: he loveth to oppress. 8 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. 9 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. 10 I have also spoken by the prophets, and I have multiplied visions, and used similitudes, by the ministry of the prophets. 11 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. 12 And Jacob fled into the country of Syria, and Israel served for a wife, and for a wife he kept sheep. 13 And by a prophet the LORD brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet was he preserved. 14 Ephraim provoked him to anger most bitterly: therefore shall he leave his blood upon him, and his reproach shall his Lord return unto him.

1 \11:12\The deceit of Ephraim and the false words of Israel are about me on every side. ...

2 \12:1\Ephraim's food is the wind, and he goes after the east wind: deceit and destruction are increasing day by day; they make an agreement with Assyria, and take oil into Egypt.

3 \12:2\The Lord has a cause against Judah, and will give punishment to Jacob for his ways; he will give him the reward of his acts.

4 \12:3\In the body of his mother he took his brother by the foot, and in his strength he was fighting with God;

5 \12:4\He had a fight with the angel and overcame him; he made request for grace to him with weeping; he came face to face with him in Beth-el and there his words came to him;

6 \12:5\Even the Lord, the God of armies; the Lord is his name.

7 \12:6\So then, come back to your God; keep mercy and right, and be waiting at all times on your God.

8 \12:7\As for Canaan, the scales of deceit are in his hands; he takes pleasure in twisted ways.

9 \12:8\And Ephraim said, Now I have got wealth and much property; in all my works no sin may be seen in me.

10 \12:9\But I am the Lord your God from the land of Egypt; I will give you tents for your living-places again as in the days of the holy meeting.

11 \12:10\My word came to the ears of the prophets and I gave them visions in great number, and by the mouths of the prophets I made use of comparisons.

12 \12:11\In Gilead there is evil. They are quite without value; in Gilgal they make offerings of oxen; truly their altars are like masses of stones in the hollows of a ploughed field.

13 \12:12\And Jacob went in flight into the field of Aram, and Israel became a servant for a wife, and for a wife he kept sheep.

14 \12:13\And by a prophet the Lord made Israel come up out of Egypt, and by a prophet he was kept safe.

15 \12:14\I have been bitterly moved to wrath by Ephraim; so that his blood will be on him, and the Lord will make his shame come back on him.