| English Standard Version | NET Bible |
| 1Ephraim feeds on the wind and pursues the east wind all day long; they multiply falsehood and violence; they make a covenant with Assyria, and oil is carried 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 an indictment against Judah and will punish Jacob according to his ways; he will 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 took his brother by the heel, and in his manhood he strove with God. | 3In the womb he attacked his brother; in his manly vigor he struggled with God. |
| 4He strove with the angel and prevailed; he wept and sought his favor. He met God at Bethel, and there God spoke with us— | 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, the God of hosts, the LORD is his memorial name: | 5As for the LORD God Almighty, the LORD is the name by which he is remembered! |
| 6“So you, by the help of your God, return, hold fast to love and justice, and wait continually for your God.” | 6But you must return to your God, by maintaining love and justice, and by waiting for your God to return to you. |
| 7A merchant, in whose hands are false balances, he loves to oppress. | 7The businessmen love to cheat; they use dishonest scales. |
| 8Ephraim has said, “Ah, but I am rich; I have found wealth for myself; in all my labors they cannot find in me 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." |
| 9I am the LORD your God from the land of Egypt; I will again make you dwell in tents, as in the days of the appointed feast. | 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; it was I who multiplied visions, and through the prophets gave parables. | 10I spoke to the prophets; I myself revealed many visions; I spoke in parables through the prophets." |
| 11If there is iniquity in Gilead, they shall surely come to nothing: in Gilgal they sacrifice bulls; their altars also are like stone heaps on the furrows of the 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 land of Aram; there Israel served for a wife, and for a wife he guarded sheep. | 12Jacob fled to the country of Aram, then Israel worked to acquire a wife; he tended sheep to pay for her. |
| 13By a prophet the LORD brought Israel up from Egypt, and by a prophet he was guarded. | 13The LORD brought Israel out of Egypt by a prophet, and due to a prophet Israel was preserved alive. |
| 14Ephraim has given bitter provocation; so his Lord will leave his bloodguilt on him and will repay him for his disgraceful deeds. | 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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