New Revised Standard NRS
The Bible in Basic English BBE
1 Ephraim herds the wind, and pursues the east wind all day long; they multiply falsehood and violence; they make a treaty with Assyria, and oil is carried 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 The Lord has an indictment against Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways, and repay him according to his deeds.
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 tried to supplant his brother, and in his manhood he strove 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 He strove with the angel and prevailed, he wept and sought his favor; he met him at Bethel, and there he spoke with him.
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 The Lord the God of hosts, the Lord is his name!
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Even the Lord, the God of armies; the Lord is his name.
6 But as for you, return to your God, hold fast to love and justice, and wait continually for your God.
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So then, come back to your God; keep mercy and right, and be waiting at all times on your God.
7 A trader, in whose hands are false balances, he loves to oppress.
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As for Canaan, the scales of deceit are in his hands; he takes pleasure in twisted ways.
8 Ephraim has said, "Ah, I am rich, I have gained wealth for myself; in all of my gain no offense has been found in me that would be sin."
8
And Ephraim said, Now I have got wealth and much property; in all my works no sin may be seen in me.
9 I am the Lord your God from the land of Egypt; I will make you live in tents again, as in the days of the appointed festival.
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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 spoke to the prophets; it was I who multiplied visions, and through the prophets I will bring destruction.
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 In Gilead there is iniquity, they shall surely come to nothing. In Gilgal they sacrifice bulls, so their altars shall be like stone heaps on the furrows of the 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 Jacob fled to the land of Aram, there Israel served for a wife, and for a wife he guarded sheep.
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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 the Lord brought Israel up from Egypt, and by a prophet he was guarded.
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And by a prophet the Lord made Israel come up out of Egypt, and by a prophet he was kept safe.
14 Ephraim has given bitter offense, so his Lord will bring his crimes down on him and pay him back for his insults.
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.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain.