Study Desk

^(F1)Ephraim surrounds Me with ^(C1)lies And the house of Israel with deceit; ^(F2)Judah is still unruly against God, Even against the Holy One who is faithful.

^(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.

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.

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

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,

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

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

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

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."

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.

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

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.

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

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

^(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.