New International Version NIV
New Century Version NCV
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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What Israel does is as useless as chasing the wind; he chases the east wind all day. They tell more and more lies and do more and more violence. They make agreements with Assyria, and they send a gift of olive oil 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 also has some things against Judah. He will punish Israel for what they have done; he will give them what they deserve.
3 In the womb he grasped his brother’s heel; as a man he struggled with God.
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Their ancestor Jacob held on to his brother's heel while the two of them were being born. When he grew to be a man, he wrestled 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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When Jacob wrestled with the angel and won, he cried and asked for his blessing. Later, God met with him at Bethel and spoke with him there.
5 the LORD God Almighty, the LORD is his name!
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It was the Lord God All-Powerful; the Lord is his great name.
6 But you must return to your God; maintain love and justice, and wait for your God always.
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You must return to your God; love him, do what is just, and always trust in him as your God.
7 The merchant uses dishonest scales and loves to defraud.
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The merchants use dishonest scales; they like to cheat people.
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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Israel said, "I am rich! I am someone with power!" All their money will do them no good because of the sins they have done.
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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"But I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt. I will make you live in tents again as you used to do on worship 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 gave them many visions; through them, I taught my lessons to you."
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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The people of Gilead are evil, worth nothing. Though people sacrifice bulls at Gilgal, their altars will become like piles of stone in a plowed 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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Your ancestor Jacob fled to Northwest Mesopotamia where he worked to get a wife; he tended sheep to pay for her.
13 The LORD used a prophet to bring Israel up from Egypt, by a prophet he cared for him.
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Later the Lord used a prophet to bring Jacob's descendants out of Egypt; he used a prophet to take care of the Israelites.
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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But the Israelites made the Lord angry when they killed other people, and they deserve to die for their crimes. for the disgraceful things they have done.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.