| New International Version | NET Bible |
| 1Ephraim feeds on the wind; he pursues the east wind all day and multiplies lies and violence. He makes a treaty with Assyria and sends olive oil to Egypt. | 1Ephraim continually feeds on the wind; he chases the east wind all day; he multiplies lies and violence. They make treaties with Assyria, and send olive oil as tribute to Egypt. |
| 2The LORD has a charge to bring against Judah; he will punish Jacob according to his ways and repay him according to his deeds. | 2The LORD also has a covenant lawsuit against Judah; he will punish Jacob according to his ways and repay him according to his deeds. |
| 3In the womb he grasped his brother's heel; as a man he struggled with God. | 3In the womb he attacked his brother; in his manly vigor he struggled with God. |
| 4He struggled with the angel and overcame him; he wept and begged for his favor. He found him at Bethel and talked with him there-- | 4He struggled with an angel and prevailed; he wept and begged for his favor. He found God at Bethel, and there he spoke with him! |
| 5the LORD God Almighty, the LORD is his name! | 5As for the LORD God Almighty, the LORD is the name by which he is remembered! |
| 6But you must return to your God; maintain love and justice, and wait for your God always. | 6But you must return to your God, by maintaining love and justice, and by waiting for your God to return to you. |
| 7The merchant uses dishonest scales and loves to defraud. | 7The businessmen love to cheat; they use dishonest scales. |
| 8Ephraim boasts, "I am very rich; I have become wealthy. With all my wealth they will not find in me any iniquity or sin." | 8Ephraim boasts, "I am very rich! I have become wealthy! In all that I have done to gain my wealth, no one can accuse me of any offense that is actually sinful." |
| 9"I have been the LORD your God ever since you came out of Egypt; I will make you live in tents again, as in the days of your appointed festivals. | 9"I am the LORD your God who brought you out of Egypt; I will make you live in tents again as in the days of old. |
| 10I spoke to the prophets, gave them many visions and told parables through them." | 10I spoke to the prophets; I myself revealed many visions; I spoke in parables through the prophets." |
| 11Is Gilead wicked? Its people are worthless! Do they sacrifice bulls in Gilgal? Their altars will be like piles of stones on a plowed field. | 11Is there idolatry in Gilead? Certainly its inhabitants will come to nothing! Do they sacrifice bulls in Gilgal? Surely their altars will be like stones heaped up on a plowed field! |
| 12Jacob fled to the country of Aram; Israel served to get a wife, and to pay for her he tended sheep. | 12Jacob fled to the country of Aram, then Israel worked to acquire a wife; he tended sheep to pay for her. |
| 13The LORD used a prophet to bring Israel up from Egypt, by a prophet he cared for him. | 13The LORD brought Israel out of Egypt by a prophet, and due to a prophet Israel was preserved alive. |
| 14But Ephraim has aroused his bitter anger; his Lord will leave on him the guilt of his bloodshed and will repay him for his contempt. | 14But Ephraim bitterly provoked him to anger; so he will hold him accountable for the blood he has shed, his Lord will repay him for the contempt he has shown. |
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