A Reproof of Ephraim, Judah, and Jacob 1 UST The people of Ephraim do what is useless; yes, they keep busy all day doing worthless things. They constantly tell lies and do violent things. First they make a treaty with Assyria, and then they send olive oil to Egypt{ to get help from that nation}. BSB BSB: Ephraim feeds on 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 UST Yahweh is bringing a legal case against Judah as well, and he will punish the descendants of Jacob for how they have lived. He will give them what they deserve for the things they have done. BSB BSB: The LORD has a charge to bring against Judah. He will punish Jacob according to his ways and repay him according to his deeds.
3 UST When their ancestor Jacob was still in his mother’ s womb, he grabbed the heel of his brother Esau{ because he wanted to be the firstborn}. When Jacob grew up and became strong, he wrestled with God. BSB BSB: In the womb he grasped his brother’s heel, and in his vigor he wrestled with God.
4 UST He struggled with an angel{ who appeared to him,} and he won. Then Jacob wept and begged the angel to bless him. God met Jacob at Bethel, and there God spoke with him. BSB BSB: Yes, he struggled with the angel and prevailed; he wept and sought His favor; he found Him at Bethel and spoke with Him there—
5 UST That one is Yahweh, the commander of the heavenly armies;“Yahweh” is the name that he commanded us always to use for him. BSB BSB: the LORD God of Hosts, the LORD is His name of renown.
6 UST So you{, people of Israel,} restore yourselves as God’ s people by{ obeying} your God! Be faithful to him and act justly toward others, and always trust in your God. BSB BSB: But you must return to your God; maintain love and justice, and always wait on your God.
7 UST But the merchants{ among you} use dishonest scales; they love to cheat{ people}. BSB BSB: A merchant loves to defraud with dishonest scales in his hands.
8 UST The people of Ephraim boast and say,“We have become very rich! We have gained great possessions for ourselves. No one can find anything wrong in all the work we have done, that is, nothing that would count as sin for us.” BSB BSB: And 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 UST “I am Yahweh your God, the one{ who brought your ancestors} out of Egypt. I will make you live in tents again, just as your people did when they celebrated the Celebration of Shelters. BSB BSB: 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.
10 UST I told the prophets what to say{ to the people}, and I am the one who showed them many times what I am going to do. I used the prophets to teach{ my people} through stories and examples.” BSB BSB: I spoke through the prophets and multiplied their visions; I gave parables through the prophets.
11 UST The people of Gilead are certainly wicked; they are now completely worthless. The people sacrifice bulls at Gilgal, but enemies will tear down their altars and leave them looking like piles of stones in a plowed field. BSB BSB: Is 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.
12 UST Your ancestor Jacob ran away to the land of Aram{ to escape from his brother Esau}. There he, Israel, worked{ as a shepherd}{ to pay} for a wife, and he kept on tending{ sheep}{ to pay} for a wife. BSB BSB: Jacob fled to the land of Aram and Israel worked for a wife—for a wife he tended sheep.
13 UST { Later} Yahweh used the prophet{ Moses} to bring the Israelites out of Egypt, and through that prophet, Yahweh took care of them. BSB BSB: But by a prophet the LORD brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet he was preserved.
14 UST But the people of Ephraim have made their Lord extremely angry. Their Lord will hold them responsible for all of the people whom they have killed, and he will give them what they deserve for all of the ways that they have offended him. BSB BSB: Ephraim has provoked bitter anger, so his Lord will leave his bloodguilt upon him and repay him for his contempt.