12 ^[a]Ephraim feeds on wind,
And pursues the east wind continually;
He multiplies lies and violence.
Moreover, ^[b]he makes a covenant with Assyria,
And oil is carried to Egypt.
² The Lord also has a dispute with Judah,
And will punish Jacob according to his ways;
He will repay him according to his deeds.
³ In the womb he took his brother by the heel,
And in his maturity he contended with God.
⁴ Yes, he wrestled with the angel and prevailed;
He wept and sought His favor.
He found Him at Bethel
And there He spoke with us,
⁵ Even the Lord, the God of hosts,
The Lord is His ^[c]name.
⁶ Therefore, return to your God,
Observe ^[d]kindness and justice,
And wait for your God continually.
⁷ A ^[e]merchant, in whose hands are false balances,
He loves to oppress.
⁸ And Ephraim said, “Surely I have become rich,
I have found wealth for myself;
In all my labors they will find in me
No iniquity, which would be sin.”
⁹ But I have been the Lord your God since the land of Egypt;
I will make you live in tents again,
As in the days of the appointed festival.
¹⁰ I have also spoken to the prophets,
And I ^[f]gave numerous visions,
And through the prophets I gave parables.
¹¹ Is there iniquity in Gilead?
Surely they are worthless.
In Gilgal they sacrifice bulls,
Yes, their altars are like the stone heaps
Beside the furrows of the field.