A Reproof of Ephraim, Judah, and Jacob

1Ephraim is fed with the wynde, & foloweth after the east winde, he dayly encreaseth lyes & destruction, they be confederate with the Assyrians, their oyle is caryed into Egypt.

2The Lorde hath a controuersie with Iuda, and wyll visite Iacob accordyng to his wayes, accordyng to their owne inuentions wyll he recompence them.

3He toke his brother by the heele when he was yet in his mothers wombe, and in his strength he wrestled with God:

4He stroue with the angel and gat the victorie, he wept and prayed to him: he founde him at Bethel, and there he spake with vs.

5Yea the Lorde God of hoastes, euen the Lorde himselfe remembred him.

6Therfore turne to thy God, kepe mercie and iudgement, and hope styll in thy God.

7He is Chanaan, the ballaunces of deceipt are in his hande, he loueth to oppresse.

8And Ephraim hath sayde, Tushe I am riche, I haue good enough: in all my workes shall not one iniquitie be founde wherin I haue offended.

9Yet am I the Lorde thy God from the lande of Egypt, I wyll yet make thee dwell in the tabernacles as in the hye feast dayes.

10I haue spoken through the prophetes, and haue multiplied visions, & shewed similitudes by the ministerie of the prophetes.

11In Galaad is iniquitie, they are fallen to vanitie: at Gilgal they haue sacrificed oxen, & their aulters are as heapes in the furrowes of the fielde.

12Iacob fled into the lande of Syria, and Israel serued for a wife, and for a wife he kept sheepe.

13By a prophete the Lorde brought them out of Egypt, and by a prophete was he preserued.

14But Ephraim hath prouoked him to displeasure through his abhominations, therfore shall his blood be powred vpon him selfe, and the Lorde his God shall rewarde him his blasphemies.