Free Bible VersionBerean Standard Bible

1. A Reproof of Ephraim, Judah, and Jacob

2. 1FBVEphraim tries to herd the wind, chasing after the east wind all day long. Their lies and violence keep on increasing. They make a treaty with Assyria, and send olive oil to Egypt.BSBBSB: 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.
3. 2FBVThe Lord also has an accusation against Judah, and will punish Jacob for the way the people act; he will repay them for what they have done.BSBBSB: The LORD has a charge to bring against Judah. He will punish Jacob according to his ways and repay him according to his deeds.
4. 3FBVEven in the womb he fought with his brother; when he became a man he fought with God.BSBBSB: In the womb he grasped his brother’s heel, and in his vigor he wrestled with God.
5. 4FBVHe fought with the angel, and he won. He wept, and begged him for a blessing. Jacob found God at Bethel, and spoke with him there—BSBBSB: Yes, he struggled with the angel and prevailed; he wept and sought His favor; he found Him at Bethel and spoke with Him there—
6. 5FBVthe Lord God Almighty, the Lord is his memorable name!BSBBSB: the LORD God of Hosts, the LORD is His name of renown.
7. 6FBVYou must return to your God. Act lovingly and do what is right, and always wait for your God.BSBBSB: But you must return to your God; maintain love and justice, and always wait on your God.
8. 7FBVA merchant who holds in his hands dishonest scales loves to swindle.BSBBSB: A merchant loves to defraud with dishonest scales in his hands.
9. 8FBVEphraim says, “I'm rich! I've made myself wealthy! I've made so much from my work, and nobody can prove me guilty of doing wrong.”BSBBSB: 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.”
10. 9FBVBut I am the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt. I will make you live again in tents like you do at the time of that particular festival.BSBBSB: 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.
11. 10FBVI spoke through the prophets. I myself gave many visions and parables through the prophets.BSBBSB: I spoke through the prophets and multiplied their visions; I gave parables through the prophets.
12. 11FBVIf Gilead is idolatrous, they will surely come to nothing. In Gilgal they sacrifice bulls. Even their altars are like heaps of rocks in the furrows of the field.BSBBSB: 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.
13. 12FBVJacob fled to the land of Aram; Israel worked there to gain a wife, earning a wife by looking after sheep.BSBBSB: Jacob fled to the land of Aram and Israel worked for a wife—for a wife he tended sheep.
14. 13FBVThrough a prophet the Lord brought Israel up from Egypt, and by a prophet they were cared for.BSBBSB: But by a prophet the LORD brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet he was preserved.
15. 14FBVEphraim has really upset the Lord, and the Lord will let them have the consequences of their bloodshed and pay them back for their contempt.BSBBSB: Ephraim has provoked bitter anger, so his Lord will leave his bloodguilt upon him and repay him for his contempt.