| King James Bible | New International Version |
| 1Ephraim feedeth on wind, and followeth after the east wind: he daily increaseth lies and desolation; and they do make a covenant with the Assyrians, and oil is carried into Egypt. | 1Ephraim 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. |
| 2The LORD hath also a controversy with Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways; according to his doings will he recompense him. | 2The LORD has a charge to bring against Judah; he will punish Jacob according to his ways and repay him according to his deeds. |
| 3He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and by his strength he had power with God: | 3In the womb he grasped his brother's heel; as a man he struggled with God. |
| 4Yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed: he wept, and made supplication unto him: he found him in Bethel, and there he spake with us; | 4He struggled with the angel and overcame him; he wept and begged for his favor. He found him at Bethel and talked with him there-- |
| 5Even the LORD God of hosts; the LORD is his memorial. | 5the LORD God Almighty, the LORD is his name! |
| 6Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep mercy and judgment, and wait on thy God continually. | 6But you must return to your God; maintain love and justice, and wait for your God always. |
| 7He is a merchant, the balances of deceit are in his hand: he loveth to oppress. | 7The merchant uses dishonest scales and loves to defraud. |
| 8And Ephraim said, Yet I am become rich, I have found me out substance: in all my labours they shall find none iniquity in me that were sin. | 8Ephraim boasts, "I am very rich; I have become wealthy. With all my wealth they will not find in me any iniquity or sin." |
| 9And I that am the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt will yet make thee to dwell in tabernacles, as in the days of the solemn feast. | 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. |
| 10I have also spoken by the prophets, and I have multiplied visions, and used similitudes, by the ministry of the prophets. | 10I spoke to the prophets, gave them many visions and told parables through them." |
| 11Is there iniquity in Gilead? surely they are vanity: they sacrifice bullocks in Gilgal; yea, their altars are as heaps in the furrows of the fields. | 11Is Gilead wicked? Its people are worthless! Do they sacrifice bulls in Gilgal? Their altars will be like piles of stones on a plowed field. |
| 12And Jacob fled into the country of Syria, and Israel served for a wife, and for a wife he kept sheep. | 12Jacob fled to the country of Aram; Israel served to get a wife, and to pay for her he tended sheep. |
| 13And by a prophet the LORD brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet was he preserved. | 13The LORD used a prophet to bring Israel up from Egypt, by a prophet he cared for him. |
| 14Ephraim provoked him to anger most bitterly: therefore shall he leave his blood upon him, and his reproach shall his Lord return unto him. | 14But 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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