1The people of Ephraim try to catch the wind and try to chase the east wind all day. They are very violent and destructive. They make treaties with Assyria and take olive oil to Egypt.

2The LORD brings charges against Judah and punishes Jacob because of the way their people act. He will pay them back for what they have done.

3Their ancestor Jacob held on to his brother's heel while the two of them were in their mother's womb. When Jacob became a man, he struggled with God.

4He struggled with the Messenger and won. Jacob cried and pleaded with him. Jacob found him at Bethel, and he talked with him there.

5The LORD is the God of Armies. The LORD is the name by which he is remembered.

6Return to your God. Be loyal and fair, and always wait with hope for your God.

7[The LORD says,] "The merchants use dishonest scales. They love to cheat people.

8The people of Ephraim say, 'We're rich. We've made a fortune. With all this wealth, no one will find us guilty of any sin.'

9I am the LORD your God. I brought you out of Egypt. I will make you live in tents again as you did during your appointed festivals.

10I spoke to the prophets and gave them many visions. I taught lessons through the prophets."

11The people of Gilead are evil. They are worthless. They sacrifice bulls in Gilgal. But their altars will become like piles of rubble beside a plowed field.

12Jacob fled to the country of Syria. Israel worked to get a wife; he took care of sheep to pay for her.

13The LORD used a prophet to bring the people of Israel out of Egypt. He used a prophet to take care of them.

14The people of Ephraim made the LORD bitter. He will hold them guilty of murder. The Lord will pay them back for their insults.