Ephraim pascit ventum, et sequitur æstum; tota die mendacium et vastitatem multiplicat: et fœdus cum Assyriis iniit, et oleum in Ægyptum ferebat.

Ephraim feedeth on the wind, and followeth the burning heat: all the day long he multiplied lies and desolation: and he hath made a covenant with the Assyrians, and carried oil into Egypt.

Ephraim, that would still play shepherd to the wind, still hunt in the track of the storm, and nothing hoard up but treachery, nothing but his own ruin! See him making treaties with the Assyrian, sending tribute of oil to Egypt!

Judicium ergo Domini cum Juda, et visitatio super Jacob: juxta vias ejus, et juxta adinventiones ejus reddet ei.

Therefore there is a judgment of the Lord with Juda, and a visitation for Jacob: he will render to him according to his ways, and according to his devices.

On Juda’s part the Lord takes up the quarrel, will call Jacob to account, for ill deeds and ill designs rewarding him.

In utero supplantavit fratrem suum, et in fortitudine sua directus est cum angelo.

In the womb he supplanted his brother: and by his strength he had success with an angel.

Here was one that took precedence of his brother even in the womb; strength was his, of celestial strength the rival.

Et invaluit ad angelum, et confortatus est; flevit, et rogavit eum. In Bethel invenit eum, et ibi locutus est nobiscum.

And he prevailed over the angel, and was strengthened: he wept, and made supplication to him: he found him in Bethel, and there he spoke with us.

Did he not hold his own in contest with an angel, and prefer, with tears, his suit? Ay, and what of that encounter at Bethel, when the promises came to us

Et Dominus Deus exercituum, Dominus memoriale ejus.

Even the Lord the God of hosts, the Lord is his memorial.

from him, the Lord of hosts, from the God whose name we remember yet?

Et tu ad Deum tuum converteris; misericordiam et judicium custodi, et spera in Deo tuo semper.

Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep mercy and judgment, and hope in thy God always.

Wouldst thou to thy God return? A tender heart keep thou must, and a right mind, and wait for thy God’s help continually.

Chanaan, in manu ejus statera dolosa, calumniam dilexit.

He is like Chanaan, there is a deceitful balance in his hand, he hath loved oppression.

Is it the Chanaanite that carries false weights, and loves ill gotten gain?

Et dixit Ephraim: Verumtamen dives effectus sum; inveni idolum mihi: omnes labores mei non invenient mihi iniquitatem quam peccavi.

And Ephraim said: But yet I am become rich, I have found me an idol: all my labours shall not find me the iniquity that I have committed.

Here is Ephraim boasting that he has grown rich, has found a false god to worship; will not these earnings of mine, thinks he, buy me out from the punishment I have deserved?

Et ego Dominus Deus tuus ex terra Ægypti: adhuc sedere te faciam in tabernaculis, sicut in diebus festivitatis.

And I that am the Lord thy God from the land of Egypt, will yet cause thee to dwell in tabernacles, as in the days of the feast.

I, the Lord, thy God in Egypt, and thy God still! Once again thou shalt dwell in tents, as in the days when I kept tryst with thee;

Et locutus sum super prophetas, et ego visionem multiplicavi, et in manu prophetarum assimilatus sum.

And I have spoken by the prophets, and I have multiplied visions, and I have used similitudes by the ministry of the prophets.

once again I will bestow utterance upon the prophets. Mine it is, by the prophets’ means, to grant clear vision, to speak in parables.

Si Galaad idolum, ergo frustra erant in Galgal bobus immolantes; nam et altaria eorum quasi acervi super sulcos agri.

If Galaad be an idol, then in vain were they in Galgal offering sacrifices with bullocks: for their altars also are as heaps in the furrows of the field.

If Galaad is all idolatry, vain the sacrifice of oxen that is made at Galgal; stone heaps their altars shall be, out in the plough-lands.

Fugit Jacob in regionem Syriæ, et servivit Israël in uxorem, et in uxorem servavit.

Jacob fled into the country of Syria, and Israel served for a wife, and was a keeper for a wife.

Time was when Jacob fled to the Aram country; Israel worked for a wife, and for that wife’s sake loyally kept his troth.

In propheta autem eduxit Dominus Israël de Ægypto, et in propheta servatus est.

But the Lord by a prophet brought Israel out of Egypt: and he was preserved by a prophet.

Time was, when the Lord rescued Israel from Egypt by a prophet’s means, and, for that prophet’s sake loyally preserved them.

Ad iracundiam me provocavit Ephraim in amaritudinibus suis: et sanguis ejus super eum veniet, et opprobrium ejus restituet ei Dominus suus.

Ephraim hath provoked me to wrath with his bitterness, and his blood shall come upon him, and his Lord will render his reproach unto him.

For bitter jealousy of mine Ephraim must pay the penalty; spurned Master spurns him now.