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Ephraim Reminded

^1 (F1)Ephraim feeds on ^(C1)wind,
And pursues the ^(C2)east wind continually;
He multiplies lies and violence.
Moreover, ^(F2)he makes a covenant with Assyria,
And oil is brought to Egypt.

² The LORD also has a ^(C1)case against Judah,
And will punish Jacob ^(C2)according to his ways;
He will repay him according to his deeds.

³ In the womb he ^(C1)took his brother by the heel,
And in his mature strength he ^(C2)contended with God.

⁴ Yes, he wrestled with the angel and prevailed;
He wept and ^(C1)implored His favor.
He found Him at ^(C2)Bethel,
And there He spoke with us,

⁵ And the LORD, the God of armies,
The LORD is His ^(F1)(C1)name.

⁶ So as for you, ^(C1)return to your God,
^(C2)Maintain ^(F1)kindness and justice,
And ^(C3)wait for your God continually.

⁷ A ^(F1)merchant, in whose hands are fraudulent ^(C1)balances,
Loves to exploit.

⁸ And Ephraim said, "I have certainly become ^(C1)rich,
I have found wealth for myself;
In all my labors they will find in me
^(C2)No wrongdoing, which would be sin."

⁹ But I have been the LORD your God since the land of Egypt;
I will make you ^(C1)live in tents again,
As in the days of the appointed festival.

¹⁰ I have also spoken to the ^(C1)prophets,
And I ^(F1)provided many visions,
And through the prophets I spoke in ^(C2)parables.

¹¹ Is there injustice in Gilead?
Certainly they are worthless.
In Gilgal they sacrifice bulls,
Yes, ^(C1)their altars are like stone heaps
Beside the furrows of a field.

¹² Now ^(C1)Jacob fled to the ^(F1)land of Aram,
And ^(C2)Israel worked for a wife,
And for a wife he kept sheep.

¹³ But by a ^(C1)prophet the LORD brought Israel up from Egypt,
And by a prophet he was protected.

^14 (C1)Ephraim has provoked God to bitter anger;
So his Lord will leave his ^(C2)guilt for bloodshed on him
And bring his ^(C3)disgrace back to him.