1 Ephraim feedeth on wind, and followeth after the east wind: he daily increaseth lies and desolation; and they do make a covenant with the Assyrians, and oil is carried into Egypt. 2 The LORD hath also a controversy with Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways; according to his doings will he recompense him.
3 ¶ He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and by his strength he had power with God: 4 Yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed: he wept, and made supplication unto him: he found him in Beth-el, and there he spake with us; 5 Even the LORD God of hosts; the LORD is his memorial. 6 Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep mercy and judgment, and wait on thy God continually.
7 ¶ He is a merchant, the balances of deceit are in his hand: he loveth to oppress. 8 And Ephraim said, Yet I am become rich, I have found me out substance: in all my labours they shall find none iniquity in me that were sin. 9 And I that am the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt will yet make thee to dwell in tabernacles, as in the days of the solemn feast. 10 I have also spoken by the prophets, and I have multiplied visions, and used similitudes, by the ministry of the prophets. 11 Is there iniquity in Gilead? surely they are vanity: they sacrifice bullocks in Gilgal; yea, their altars are as heaps in the furrows of the fields. 12 And Jacob fled into the country of Syria, and Israel served for a wife, and for a wife he kept sheep . 13 And by a prophet the LORD brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet was he preserved. 14 Ephraim provoked him to anger most bitterly: therefore shall he leave his blood upon him, and his reproach shall his Lord return unto him.
Israēla nemitīga atkrišana
(Sal. 1Moz 25–32)1 Efraims man apkārt ar meliem
un ar viltu Israēla nams,
tik Jūda vēl staigā ar Dievu
un uzticas svētīgajiem.
2 Efraims ir vēju gans,
diendienā dzenā austrumvēju,
tik melo un nīdē –
ar Asīriju derību noslēguši
un eļļu Ēģiptei gādā!
3 Strīds Kungam ar Jūdu –
piemeklēs Jēkabu par viņa gaitām,
par viņa darbiem viņam tad atmaksās!
4 Jau klēpī viņš kampa pēc sava brāļa,
tik stiprs, ka ar Dievu cīkstējās!
5 Viņš cīkstējās ar eņģeli un to uzveica –
tas raudāja un lūdzās viņam žēlsirdību,
tad viņš to atrada Bētelē,
tur viņš ar mums runāja!
6 Kungs ir Pulku Dievs,
kā Kungs viņš pieminams!
7 Tu vēl atgriezīsies pie sava Dieva,
turēsi žēlastību un tiesu,
cerēsi uz savu Dievu vienmēr!
8 Tirgonim rokā krāpšanas svari –
kā tam tīk blēdīties!
9 Un Efraims saka:
taču bagāts esmu,
pats sev turību sarūpēju,
nekur, ko es darījis,
man neatrast vainu,
kas skaitītos grēks!
10 Es – Kungs, tavs Dievs,
jau kopš Ēģiptes zemes,
gan vēl likšu tev dzīvot teltīs
kā svētku dienās!
11 Es esmu uz praviešiem runājis,
papilnam tiem devis redzējumus,
ar praviešu roku līdzības rādījis!
12 Gileāds ir nekrietns,
ak, nonīks tie –
Gilgālā tie upurēja vēršus!
Un viņu altāri
paliks kā akmeņu kaudzes lauku vagās!
13 Un Jēkabs bēga uz Arāma laukiem,
un Israēls vergoja, lai dabūtu sievu,
un par otru sievu viņš sargāja ganāmpulku.
14 Bet ar pravieti Kungs izveda Israēlu no Ēģiptes,
un ar pravieti tas tika nosargāts!
15 Efraims iededza sūras dusmas –
gan viņa izlietās asinis nāks pār viņu,
Kungs atmaksās viņam, jo viņš nievājis!
