1 Ephraim feedeth on wind, and pursueth after the east wind: all day long he multiplieth lies and desolation; and they make a covenant with Assyria, and oil is carried into Egypt.2 Jehovah hath also a controversy with Judah, and he will punish Jacob according to his ways; according to his doings will he recompense him.3 He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and in his strength he wrestled with God.4 Yea, he wrestled with the Angel, and prevailed; he wept, and made supplication unto him: he found him in Bethel, and there he spoke with us,5 -even Jehovah, the God of hosts, -Jehovah is his memorial.6 And thou, return unto thy God: keep loving-kindness and judgment, and wait on thy God continually.7 {He is} a merchant, balances of deceit are in his hand; he loveth to oppress.8 And Ephraim saith, Nevertheless I am become rich, I have found me out substance; in all my labours they shall find none iniquity in me that were sin.9 But I {that am} Jehovah thy God from the land of Egypt will again make thee to dwell in tents, as in the days of the solemn feast.10 And I have spoken to the prophets, and I have multiplied visions, and by means of the prophets have I used similitudes.11 If Gilead is iniquity, surely they are but vanity: they sacrifice bullocks in Gilgal; yea, their altars are as heaps in the furrows of the fields.12 And Jacob fled into the country of Syria, and Israel served for a wife, and for a wife he kept {sheep}.13 And by a prophet Jehovah brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet was he preserved.14 Ephraim provoked {him} to anger most bitterly; and his Lord shall leave his blood upon him, and recompense unto him his reproach.
1 "以法莲吃风， 整天追赶东风， 增添虚谎和强暴。他们与亚述结盟， 又给埃及送油。"（本节在《马索拉抄本》为12:2） 2 耶和华与犹大争辩； 他必照雅各所行的惩罚他， 按他所作的报应他。 3 他在母腹中抓住他哥哥的脚跟， 壮年的时候又与 神角力。 4 他与天使角力， 并且得胜； 他哀哭， 向他求恩。他在伯特利遇见 神， 神在那里对他说话。 5 耶和华是万军的 神， 耶和华是他的名号。 6 所以你要靠着你的 神归回， 谨守忠信和公平， 常常等候你的 神。 7 以色列是个商人， 手里拿着诡诈的天平， 喜爱欺压别人。 8 以法莲说： "我成了富翁， 我为自己发了财； 在我所有的收益中， 人不能找出我有什么罪孽， 可算为罪恶的。" 9 "自从你出埃及地以来， 我就是耶和华你的 神； 我必使你再住在帐棚里， 像在节日的日子一样， 10 我曾对先知说话， 加添许多异象； 又借先知说比喻。 11 在基列仍有罪孽， 他们实在是没有价值的。他们在吉甲献牛犊为祭， 他们的祭坛好像田间犁沟中的石堆。" 12 从前雅各逃到亚兰地， 以色列为得妻子而作工， 为得妻子而替人放羊。 13 后来， 耶和华借着一位先知把以色列从埃及领上来， 也借着一位先知， 以色列得蒙看顾。 14 以法莲大大地惹了主的烈怒， 所以， 他的主把他流人血的罪归到他身上， 把他当受的羞辱归给他。