New International Version NIV
Common English Bible CEB
1 Ephraim 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.
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Ephraim herds the wind, and pursues the east wind all day long; they multiply lies and violence; they make a treaty with Assyria, and oil is carried to Egypt.
2 The LORD has a charge to bring against Judah; he will punish Jacob according to his ways and repay him according to his deeds.
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The LORD has a charge against Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways, and respond to him according to his deeds.
3 In the womb he grasped his brother’s heel; as a man he struggled with God.
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From the womb he tried to be the oldest of twin brothers; as an adult he struggled with God.
4 He struggled with the angel and overcame him; he wept and begged for his favor. He found him at Bethel and talked with him there—
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He struggled with the messenger and survived; he wept and sought his favor; he met him at Bethel, and there he spoke with him.
5 the LORD God Almighty, the LORD is his name!
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The LORD God of heavenly forces, the LORD is his name!
6 But you must return to your God; maintain love and justice, and wait for your God always.
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But you! Return to your God with faithful love and justice, and wait continually for your God.
7 The merchant uses dishonest scales and loves to defraud.
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He is a merchant; the means to cheat are in his hands; he loves to take advantage of others.
8 Ephraim boasts, “I am very rich; I have become wealthy. With all my wealth they will not find in me any iniquity or sin.”
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Ephraim has said, "I'm rich, I've gained wealth for myself; in all of my gain no offense has been found in me that would be sin."
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.
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I am the LORD your God from the land of Egypt; I will make you live in tents again, as in former days.
10 I spoke to the prophets, gave them many visions and told parables through them.”
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I spoke to the prophets; and I multiplied visions, and through them I uttered parables.
11 Is Gilead wicked? Its people are worthless! Do they sacrifice bulls in Gilgal? Their altars will be like piles of stones on a plowed field.
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In Gilead there is wickedness; they will surely come to nothing. In Gilgal they sacrifice bulls, so their altars will be like piles of stones on the rows of the field.
12 Jacob fled to the country of Aram ; Israel served to get a wife, and to pay for her he tended sheep.
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Jacob fled to the land of Aram; there Israel served for a wife, and for a wife he kept watch over livestock.
13 The LORD used a prophet to bring Israel up from Egypt, by a prophet he cared for him.
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By a prophet the LORD brought Israel up from Egypt, and by a prophet he was guarded.
14 But Ephraim has aroused his bitter anger; his Lord will leave on him the guilt of his bloodshed and will repay him for his contempt.
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Ephraim has given bitter offense; so the LORD will bring his crimes down on him and pay him back for his wrongdoing.
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Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible