The Complete Jewish Bible CJB
The Bible in Basic English BBE
1 Efrayim is chasing the wind, pursuing the wind from the east. All day he piles up lies and desolation they make a covenant with Ashur, while sending olive oil to Egypt.
1
Ephraim's food is the wind, and he goes after the east wind: deceit and destruction are increasing day by day; they make an agreement with Assyria, and take oil into Egypt.
2 ADONAI also has a grievance against Y'hudah; he will punish Ya'akov according to his ways and pay him back for his misdeeds.
2
The Lord has a cause against Judah, and will give punishment to Jacob for his ways; he will give him the reward of his acts.
3 In the womb he took his brother by the heel; in the strength of his manhood he fought with God.
3
In the body of his mother he took his brother by the foot, and in his strength he was fighting with God;
4 Yes, he fought with an angel and won; he wept and pleaded with him. Then at Beit-El he found him, and there he would [later] speak with us
4
He had a fight with the angel and overcame him; he made request for grace to him with weeping; he came face to face with him in Beth-el and there his words came to him;
5 Adonai ELOHEI-Tzva'ot; ADONAI is his name!
5
Even the Lord, the God of armies; the Lord is his name.
6 So you, return to your God; hold fast to grace and justice; and always put your hope in your God.
6
So then, come back to your God; keep mercy and right, and be waiting at all times on your God.
7 "A huckster keeps false scales, and he loves to cheat.
7
As for Canaan, the scales of deceit are in his hands; he takes pleasure in twisted ways.
8 Efrayim says, 'I have gotten so rich! I have made me a fortune! And in all my profits no one will find anything wrong or sinful.'
8
And Ephraim said, Now I have got wealth and much property; in all my works no sin may be seen in me.
9 "But I am ADONAI your God, from the land of Egypt. Again I will make you live in tents, as in the days of the established festival.
9
But I am the Lord your God from the land of Egypt; I will give you tents for your living-places again as in the days of the holy meeting.
10 I have spoken to the prophets; it was I who gave vision after vision; through the prophets I gave examples to show what it would all be like.
10
My word came to the ears of the prophets and I gave them visions in great number, and by the mouths of the prophets I made use of comparisons.
11 Is Gil'ad given to iniquity? Yes, they have become worthless. In Gilgal they sacrifice to bulls; therefore their altars are like piles of stones in a plowed field."
11
In Gilead there is evil. They are quite without value; in Gilgal they make offerings of oxen; truly their altars are like masses of stones in the hollows of a ploughed field.
12 Ya'akov fled to the land of Aram. There Isra'el slaved to win a wife; for a wife he tended sheep.
12
And Jacob went in flight into the field of Aram, and Israel became a servant for a wife, and for a wife he kept sheep.
13 By a prophet ADONAI brought Isra'el up from Egypt, and by a prophet he was protected.
13
And by a prophet the Lord made Israel come up out of Egypt, and by a prophet he was kept safe.
14 Efrayim has given bitter provocation, so the penalty for his bloodshed will be thrown down on him, and his Lord will repay him for his insult.
14
I have been bitterly moved to wrath by Ephraim; so that his blood will be on him, and the Lord will make his shame come back on him.
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain.