| New King James Version | New International Version |
| 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 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. |
| 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 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 in his strength he struggled with God. | 3In the womb he grasped his brother's heel; as a man he struggled 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— | 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-- |
| 5That is, the LORD God of hosts. The LORD is His memorable name. | 5the LORD God Almighty, the LORD is his name! |
| 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; maintain love and justice, and wait for your God always. |
| 7“A cunning Canaanite! Deceitful scales are in his hand; He loves to oppress. | 7The merchant uses dishonest scales and loves to defraud. |
| 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.’ | 8Ephraim boasts, "I am very rich; I have become wealthy. With all my wealth they will not find in me any iniquity or sin." |
| 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. | 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 have multiplied visions; I have given symbols through the witness of the prophets.” | 10I spoke to the prophets, gave them many visions and told parables through them." |
| 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 Gilead wicked? Its people are worthless! Do they sacrifice bulls in Gilgal? Their altars will be like piles of stones on a plowed field. |
| 12Jacob fled to the country of Syria; Israel served for a spouse, And for a wife he tended sheep. | 12Jacob fled to the country of Aram; Israel served to get a wife, and to pay for her he tended sheep. |
| 13By a prophet the LORD brought Israel out of Egypt, And by a prophet he was 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 his Lord will leave the guilt of his bloodshed upon him, And return his reproach upon 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. |
| The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. |
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