Study Desk

Ephraim has surrounded me with lies,^(ai) Israel with deceit. And Judah is unruly against God, even against the faithful^(aj) Holy One.^[b](ak)

^[a]1Ephraim^(a) feeds on the wind;^(b) he pursues the east wind all day and multiplies lies and violence.^(c) He makes a treaty with Assyria^(d) and sends olive oil to Egypt.^(e)

The Lord has a charge^(f) to bring against Judah;^(g) he will punish^(h) Jacob^[b] according to his ways and repay him according to his deeds.⁽ⁱ⁾

In the womb he grasped his brother's heel;^(j) as a man he struggled^(k) with God.

He struggled with the angel and overcame him; he wept and begged for his favor. He found him at Bethel^(l) and talked with him there—

the Lord God Almighty, the Lord is his name!^(m)

But you must return⁽ⁿ⁾ to your God; maintain love and justice,^(o) and wait for your God always.^(p)

The merchant uses dishonest scales^(q) and loves to defraud.

Ephraim boasts,^(r) "I am very rich; I have become wealthy.^(s) With all my wealth they will not find in me any iniquity or sin."

"I have been the Lord your God ever since you came out of Egypt;^(t) I will make you live in tents^(u) again, as in the days of your appointed festivals.

I spoke to the prophets, gave them many visions and told parables^(v) through them."^(w)

Is Gilead wicked?^(x) Its people are worthless! Do they sacrifice bulls in Gilgal?^(y) Their altars will be like piles of stones on a plowed field.^(z)

Jacob fled to the country of Aram^[c];^(aa) Israel served to get a wife, and to pay for her he tended sheep.^(ab)

The Lord used a prophet to bring Israel up from Egypt,^(ac) by a prophet he cared for him.^(ad)

But Ephraim has aroused his bitter anger; his Lord will leave on him the guilt of his bloodshed^(ae) and will repay him for his contempt.^(af)