Israel is chasing the wind, yes, shepherding a whirl. wind-a dangerous game! For she has given gifts to Egypt and Assyria to get their help, and in return she gets their worthless promises.
2 But the Lord is bringing a lawsuit against Judah, too. Judah also will be justly punished for his ways.
3 When he was born, he struggled with his brother; when he became a man, he even fought with God.
4 Yes, he wrestled with the Angel and prevailed. He wept and pleaded for a blessing from Him. He met God there at Bethel face to face. God spoke to him-
5 The Lord, the God of Hosts; Jehovah is His Name.
6 Oh, come back to God. Live by the principles of love and justice, and always be expecting much from Him, your God.
7 But no, My people are like crafty merchants sell-ing from dishonest scales they love to cheat.
8 Ephraim boasts, “I am so rich! I have gotten it all by myself!” But riches can’t make up for sin.
9 I am the same Lord, the same God, who delivered you from slavery in Egypt, and I am the One who will consign you to living in tents again, as you do each year at the Tabernacle Feast.
10 I sent My prophets to warn you with many a vision and many a parable and dream.
11 But the sins of Gilgal flourish just the same. Row on row of altars-like furrows in a field are used for sacrifices to your idols, And Gilead, too, is full of fools who worship idols.
12 Jacob fled to Syria and earned a wife by tending sheep.
13 Then the Lord led His people out of Egypt by a prophet, who guided and protected them.
14 But Ephraim has bitterly provoked the Lord. The Lord will sentence him to death as payment for his sins.
