12 Ephraim feeds on wind
and chases the east wind all day.
    He multiplies lies and violence.
    They make a treaty with Assyria,
    and olive oil is carried to Egypt.
² The Lord has a case against Judah.
    He will deal with Jacob according to his ways.
    According to his deeds he will repay him.
³ In the womb Jacob grasped his brother by the heel,
    and when he was a grown man, he struggled with God.
⁴ He wrestled with the Angel and prevailed.
    He wept and sought his favor.
    He found him at Bethel, and there he spoke with him,^[a]
5 namely, with the Lord, the God of Armies.
    The Lord is the name by which he is to be remembered!
⁶ So return to your God.
    Observe mercy and justice,
    and wait for your God continually.

⁷ A merchant has fraudulent scales in his hand.
    He loves to defraud others.
⁸ Ephraim said, “Surely I have become rich.
    I have secured wealth for myself.
    Among all my possessions no one will find anything that makes me guilty of sin.”

⁹ But I have been the Lord your God from the time you left the land of Egypt.
    I will make you dwell in tents again,
    as in the days of the appointed festival.^[b]
10 I have spoken to the prophets.
    I have given numerous visions.
    I taught meaningful lessons through the prophets.
¹¹ Since Gilead is wicked,
    it is certain that they are worthless.
    In Gilgal they sacrifice bulls.
    Yes, their altars are like piles of stones in the furrows of a field.
¹² Jacob fled to the territory of Aram.
    Israel worked as a servant to get a wife,
    and for a wife, he took care of sheep.
¹³ By a prophet, the Lord brought Israel out of Egypt,
    and by a prophet he took care of Israel.
¹⁴ Ephraim has provoked bitter anger.
    Therefore his Lord will leave him bloodied by his guilt
    and bring his disgrace back on him.