The Lord uses prophets and visions and similitudes to guide his people, but they become rich and will not wait on the Lord-Ephraim provoked him most bitterly.

  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.