| New King James Version | Berean Study Bible |
| 1“Ephraim feeds on the wind, And pursues the east wind; He daily increases lies and desolation. Also they make a covenant with the Assyrians, And oil is carried to Egypt. | 1Ephraim chases the wind and pursues the east wind all day long; he multiplies lies and violence; he makes a covenant with Assyria and sends olive oil to Egypt. |
| 2“The LORD also brings a charge against Judah, And will punish Jacob according to his ways; According to his deeds He will recompense him. | 2The LORD also brings a charge 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 in his strength he struggled with God. | 3In the womb he grasped his brother’s heel, and in his vigor he wrestled with God. |
| 4Yes, he struggled with the Angel and prevailed; He wept, and sought favor from Him. He found Him in Bethel, And there He spoke to us— | 4Yes, he struggled with the angel and prevailed; he wept and sought His favor; he found Him at Bethel and spoke with Him there— |
| 5That is, the LORD God of hosts. The LORD is His memorable name. | 5the LORD is the God of Hosts—the LORD is His name of renown. |
| 6So you, by the help of your God, return; Observe mercy and justice, And wait on your God continually. | 6But you must return to your God, maintaining love and justice, and always waiting on your God. |
| 7“A cunning Canaanite! Deceitful scales are in his hand; He loves to oppress. | 7A merchant loves to defraud with dishonest scales in his hands. |
| 8And Ephraim said, ‘Surely I have become rich, I have found wealth for myself; In all my labors They shall find in me no iniquity that is sin.’ | 8And Ephraim boasts: “How rich I have become! I have found wealth for myself. In all my labors, they can find in me no iniquity that is sinful.” |
| 9“But I am the LORD your God, Ever since the land of Egypt; I will again make you dwell in tents, As in the days of the appointed feast. | 9But I am the LORD your God ever since the land of Egypt. I will again make you dwell in tents, as in the days of the appointed feast. |
| 10I have also spoken by the prophets, And have multiplied visions; I have given symbols through the witness of the prophets.” | 10I spoke through the prophets and multiplied their visions; I gave parables through the prophets. |
| 11Though Gilead has idols— Surely they are vanity— Though they sacrifice bulls in Gilgal, Indeed their altars shall be heaps in the furrows of the field. | 11Is there iniquity in Gilead? They will surely come to nothing. Do they sacrifice bulls in Gilgal? Indeed, their altars will be heaps of stones in the furrows of the field. |
| 12Jacob fled to the country of Syria; Israel served for a spouse, And for a wife he tended sheep. | 12Jacob fled to the land of Aram and Israel worked for a wife—for a wife he tended sheep. |
| 13By a prophet the LORD brought Israel out of Egypt, And by a prophet he was preserved. | 13But by a prophet the LORD brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet he was preserved. |
| 14Ephraim provoked Him to anger most bitterly; Therefore his Lord will leave the guilt of his bloodshed upon him, And return his reproach upon him. | 14Ephraim has provoked bitter anger, so his Lord will leave his bloodguilt upon him and repay him for his contempt. |
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