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12Ephraim 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.

The Long History of Rebellion

² The Lord has an indictment against Judah,
   and will punish Jacob according to his ways,
   and repay him according to his deeds.
³ In the womb he tried to supplant his brother,
   and in his manhood he strove with God.
⁴ He strove with the angel and prevailed,
   he wept and sought his favour;
he met him at Bethel,
   and there he spoke with him.^*
5 The Lord the God of hosts,
   the Lord is his name!
⁶ But as for you, return to your God,
   hold fast to love and justice,
   and wait continually for your God.

⁷ A trader, in whose hands are false balances,
   he loves to oppress.
⁸ Ephraim 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.’^*
9 I 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.

¹⁰ I spoke to the prophets;
   it was I who multiplied visions,
   and through the prophets I will bring destruction.
¹¹ In 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.
¹² Jacob fled to the land of Aram;
   there Israel served for a wife,
   and for a wife he guarded sheep.^*
13 By a prophet the Lord brought Israel up from Egypt,
   and by a prophet he was guarded.
¹⁴ Ephraim has given bitter offence,
   so his Lord will bring his crimes down on him
   and pay him back for his insults.