1 Ephraim|strong="H0669" is|strong="H0669" wasting its time|strong="H5750"; Israel|strong="H3478" “chases the|strong="H5973" wind” all|strong="H5750" day long|strong="H5750". The|strong="H5973" people tell more|strong="H5750" and|strong="H3063" more|strong="H5750" lies|strong="H3585" and|strong="H3063" steal more|strong="H5750" and|strong="H3063" more|strong="H5750". They|strong="H4820" have|strong="H3478" made|strong="H5437" agreements with|strong="H5973" Assyria, and|strong="H3063" they|strong="H4820" are|strong="H3478" carrying their|strong="H5437" olive oil to|strong="H3478" Egypt.
2 The|strong="H3605" LORD says, “I|strong="H3117" have|strong="H3605" a|strong="H3772" complaint against|strong="H5973" Israel. Jacob must be|strong="H3117" punished for|strong="H4714" the|strong="H3605" bad things|strong="H3605" he|strong="H3117" did|strong="H3117".
3 While|strong="H5973" Jacob|strong="H3290" was|strong="H3068" still|strong="H7725" in|strong="H5921" his|strong="H5921" mother’s womb, he|strong="H3068" began to|strong="H7725" trick his|strong="H5921" brother. Jacob|strong="H3290" was|strong="H3068" a|strong="H5921" strong young man, and|strong="H3068" at|strong="H5921" that|strong="H3068" time he|strong="H3068" fought with|strong="H5973" God|strong="H3068".
4 Jacob wrestled|strong="H8280" with|strong="H0854" God’s|strong="H0430" angel and|strong="H0430" won. He|strong="H0430" cried and|strong="H0430" asked for|strong="H0430" a|strong="H0251" favor. That|strong="H0854" happened at|strong="H0430" Bethel. There he|strong="H0430" spoke to|strong="H0430" us|strong="H0853".
5 Yes, YAHWEH is|strong="H8033" the|strong="H0413" God|strong="H1008" of|strong="H4397" the|strong="H0413" armies. His|strong="H0413" name is|strong="H8033" YAHWEH.
6 So come|strong="H6635" back to|strong="H3068" your|strong="H3068" God|strong="H0430". Be|strong="H3068" loyal|strong="H3068" to|strong="H3068" him|strong="H0430". Do the|strong="H3068" right thing, and|strong="H3068" always trust in|strong="H0430" your|strong="H3068" God|strong="H0430"!
7 “Jacob is|strong="H0430" a|strong="H7725" tricky merchant. He|strong="H0430" even cheats his|strong="H8104" friend! Even his|strong="H8104" scales lie.
8 Ephraim said, ‘I|strong="H3027" am rich! I|strong="H3027" have|strong="H0157" found true riches! No one|strong="H3027" will|strong="H3027" learn about my|strong="H3027" crimes. No one|strong="H3027" will|strong="H3027" learn about my|strong="H3027" sins.’
9 “But|strong="H0389" I|strong="H0834" am still|strong="H0559" the|strong="H3605" LORD your|strong="H3605" God|strong="H0559", as|strong="H0834" I|strong="H0834" was|strong="H0834" when|strong="H0834" you|strong="H0834" left|strong="H4672" the|strong="H3605" land of|strong="H3605" Egypt. I|strong="H0834" will|strong="H0834" make you|strong="H0834" live in|strong="H4672" tents, as|strong="H0834" you|strong="H0834" do|strong="H3605" during|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" Festival of|strong="H3605" Shelters.
10 I|strong="H0595" spoke to|strong="H3068" the|strong="H3068" prophets and|strong="H3068" gave them|strong="H3427" many visions. I|strong="H0595" gave the|strong="H3068" prophets many ways to|strong="H3068" teach my|strong="H3068" lessons to|strong="H3068" you|strong="H3117".
11 But|strong="H1696" the|strong="H5921" people|strong="H1696" in|strong="H5921" Gilead have|strong="H5030" sinned. There are|strong="H3027" many|strong="H7235" terrible|strong="H7235" idols in|strong="H5921" that|strong="H3027" place|strong="H3027". They|strong="H5921" offer sacrifices to|strong="H1696" bulls at|strong="H5921" Gilgal. They|strong="H5921" have|strong="H5030" many|strong="H7235" altars. There are|strong="H3027" rows and|strong="H3027" rows of|strong="H3027" altars—like|strong="H1819" the|strong="H5921" rows of|strong="H3027" dirt in|strong="H5921" a|strong="H1696" plowed field.
12 “Jacob ran|strong="H1961" away to|strong="H1961" the|strong="H5921" land|strong="H7704" of|strong="H4196" Aram. There|strong="H1961" Israel worked for|strong="H5921" a|strong="H1961" wife. He|strong="H0518" kept sheep to|strong="H1961" get another|strong="H1571" wife.
13 But|strong="H3290" the|strong="H5647" LORD used|strong="H5647" a|strong="H3290" prophet and|strong="H3478" brought Israel|strong="H3478" out of|strong="H0802" Egypt. He|strong="H0802" used|strong="H5647" a|strong="H3290" prophet and|strong="H3478" kept|strong="H8104" Israel|strong="H3478" safe.
14 But|strong="H3068" Ephraim made|strong="H5927" the|strong="H0853" LORD|strong="H3068" very angry. Ephraim killed many people, so|strong="H5927" he|strong="H3068" will|strong="H3068" be|strong="H3478" punished for|strong="H4714" his|strong="H8104" crimes. His|strong="H8104" Lord|strong="H3068" will|strong="H3068" make him|strong="H0853" bear his|strong="H8104" shame.”