Ephraim compasseth me about with falsehood, and the house of Israel with deceit : and Judah is yet unsteadfast with God, and with the Holy One who is faithful. Ephraim feedeth on wind, and followeth after the east wind: he continually multiplieth lies and desolation; and they make a covenant with Assyria, and oil is carried into Egypt. The LORD hath also a controversy with Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways; according to his doings will he recompense him.

'In the womb he took his brother by the heel;

And in his manhood he had power with God: Yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed, He wept, and made supplication unto him.

He found him at Beth-el, and there he spake with us; Even the LORD, the God of hosts, the LORD is his memorial.'

Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep mercy and judgement, and wait on thy God continually. —

He is a trafficker, the balances of deceit are in his hand : he loveth to oppress. And Ephraim said, Surely I am become rich, I have found me wealth: in all my labours they shall find in me none iniquity that were sin. But I am the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt; I will yet again make thee to dwell in tents, as in the days of the solemn feast. I have also spoken unto the prophets, and

I have multiplied visions; and by the ministry of the prophets have I used similitudes. Is Gilead iniquity? they are altogether vanity; in 'Gilgal' they sacrifice bullocks: yea, their altars are as 'heaps' in the furrows of the field.

'And Jacob fled into the field of Aram,

And Israel served for a wife, and for a wife he kept sheep.

And by a prophet the LORD brought Israel up out of Egypt,

And by a prophet was he preserved.'

Ephraim hath provoked to anger most bitterly: therefore shall his blood be left upon him, and his reproach shall his Lord return unto him. When Ephraim spake with trembling he exalted himself in Israel: but when he offended in Baal, he died. And now they sin more and more, and have made them molten images of their silver, even idols according to their own understanding, all of them the work of the craftsmen: they say of them, Let the men that sacrifice kiss the calves. Therefore they shall be as the morning cloud, and as the dew that passeth early away, as the chaff that is driven with the whirlwind out of the threshing-floor, and as the smoke out of the chimney.

Yet I am the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt;

and thou knowest no god but me, and beside me there is no saviour. I did know thee in the wilderness, in the land of great drought. According to their pasture, so were they filled; they were filled, and their heart was exalted: therefore have they forgotten me.

Therefore am I unto them as a lion: as a leopard will I watch by the way: I will meet them as a bear that is bereaved of her whelps, and will rend the caul of their heart and there will I devour them like a lion; the wild beast shall tear them. It is thy destruction, O Israel, that thou art against me, against thy help. Where now is thy king, that he may save thee in all thy cities? and thy judges, of whom thou saidst, Give me a king and princes? I have given thee a king in mine anger, and have taken him away in my wrath. The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up; his sin is laid up in store. The sorrows of a travailing woman shall come upon him: he is an unwise son; when it is time, he standeth not in the place of the breaking forth of children.

I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, where are thy plagues? O grave, where is thy destruction?

Repentance shall be hid from mine eyes. Though he be fruitful among his brethren, an east wind shall come, the breath of the LORD coming up from the wilderness, and his spring shall become dry, and his fountain shall be dried up it shall spoil the treasure of all pleasant vessels.

Samaria shall bear her guilt; for she hath rebelled against her God: they shall fall by the sword; their infants shall be dashed in pieces, and their women with child shall be ripped up.

REPENTANT ISRAEL

O Israel, return unto the LORD thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity. Take with you words, and return unto the LORD: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and accept that which is good: so will we render as bullocks the offering of our lips. Asshur shall not save us; we will not ride upon horses: neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, Ye are our Gods: for in thee the fatherless findeth mercy.

THE LORD

I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him. I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall blossom as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon. His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon. They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as the corn, and blossom as the vine: the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon.

EPHRAIM

What have I to do any more with idols?

THE LORD

I have answered, and will regard him.

EPHRAIM

I am like a green fir tree

THE LORD

From me is thy fruit found.

Who is wise, and he shall understand these things?
Prudent, and he shall know them?

For the ways of the LORD are right,
And the just shall walk in them:

But transgressors shall fall therein.

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