¹ Ephraim feedeth on the wind, and followeth the burning heat: all the day long he multiplied lies and desolation: and he hath made a covenant with the Assyrians, and carried oil into Egypt.

² Therefore there is a judgment of the Lord with Juda, and a visitation for Jacob: he will render to him according to his ways, and according to his devices.

³ In the womb he supplanted his brother: and by his strength he had success with an angel.

⁴ And he prevailed over the angel, and was strengthened: he wept, and made supplication to him: he found him in Bethel, and there he spoke with us.

⁵ Even the Lord the God of hosts, the Lord is his memorial.

⁶ Therefore turn thou to thy God : keep mercy and judgment, and hope in thy God always.

⁷ He is like Chanaan, there is a deceitful balance in his hand, he hath loved oppression.

⁸ And Ephraim said: But yet I am be- come rich, I have found me an idol: all my labours shall not find me the iniquity that I have committed.

⁹ And I that am the Lord thy God from the land of Egypt, will yet cause thee to dwell in tabernacles, as in the days of the feast.

¹⁰ And I have spoken by the prophets, and I have multiplied visions, and I have used similitudes by the ministry of the prophets.

¹¹ If Galaad be an idol, then in vain were they in Galgal offering sacrifices with bullocks: for their altars also are as heaps in the furrows of the field.

¹² Jacob fled into the country of Syria, and Israel served for a wife, and was a keeper for a wife.

¹³ But the Lord by a prophet brought Israel out of Egypt: and he was pre- served by a prophet.

¹⁴ Ephraim hath provoked me to wrath with his bitterness, and his blood shall come upon him, and his Lord will render his reproach unto him.

⁶ Wherefore a lion out of the wood hath slain them, a wolf in the evening, hath spoiled them, a leopard watcheth for their cities: every one that shall go out thence shall be taken, because their transgressions are multiplied, their rebellions are strengthened.

¹ As the morning passeth, so hath the king of Israel Israel was a child, and I loved him: and I called my son out of Egypt.

² As they called them, they went away from before their face: they offered victims to Baalim, and sacrificed to idols.

³ And I was like a foster father to Ephraim, I carried them in my arms: and they knew not that I healed them.

⁴ I will draw them with the cords of Adam, with the bands of love : and I will be to them as one that taketh off the yoke on their jaws: and I put his meat to him that he might eat.

⁵ He shall not return into the land of Egypt, but the Assyrian shall be his king: because they would not be converted.

⁶ The sword hath begun in his cities, and it shall consume his chosen men, and sha.ll devour their heads.

⁷ And my people shall long for my return: but a yoke shall be put upon them together, which shall not be taken off.

⁸ How shall I deal with thee, O Ephraim, shall I protect thee, O Israel? how shall I make thee as Adama, shall I set thee as Seboim? my heart is turned within me, my repentance is stirred up.

⁹ I will not execute the fierceness of my wrath: I will not return to destroy Ephraim: because I am God, and not man: the holy one in the midst of thee, and I will not enter into the city.

¹⁰ They shall walk after the Lord, he shall roar as a lion: because he shall roar, and the children of the sea shall fear.

¹¹ And they shall fly away like a bird out of Egypt, and like a dove out of the land of the Assyrians: and I will place them in their own houses, saith the Lord.

¹² Ephraim hath compassed me about with denials, and the house of Israel with deceit: but Juda went down as a witness with God, and is faithful with the saints.