The people of Ephraim look to others for help. It’s like chasing the wind. The wind they keep chasing is hot and dry. They tell more and more lies. They are always hurting others. They make a peace treaty with Assyria. They send olive oil to Egypt to get help.

以法莲吃风，且追赶东风，时常增添虚谎和强暴，与亚述立约，把油送到埃及。

以法莲以风为食物，终日追逐东风，增添虚谎和残暴，与亚述立约，也把油送到埃及。

以法莲以风为食物，终日追逐东风，增添虚谎和残暴，与亚述立约，也把油送到埃及。

“以法莲以风为食，整天追逐东风，虚谎和暴力日益增多；他跟亚述结盟，向埃及进贡橄榄油。”

“以法莲吃风，整天追赶东风，增添虚谎和强暴。他们与亚述结盟，又给埃及送油。”（本节在《马索拉文本》为12:2）

以法蓮吃風，且追趕東風，時常增添虛謊和強暴，與亞述立約，把油送到埃及。

以法蓮以風為食物，終日追逐東風，增添虛謊和殘暴，與亞述立約，也把油送到埃及。

以法蓮以風為食物，終日追逐東風，增添虛謊和殘暴，與亞述立約，也把油送到埃及。

「以法蓮以風為食，整天追逐東風，虛謊和暴力日益增多；他跟亞述結盟，向埃及進貢橄欖油。」

“以法蓮吃風，整天追趕東風，增添虛謊和強暴。他們與亞述結盟，又給埃及送油。”（本節在《馬索拉文本》為12:2）

以法蓮在喫風，在追趕着熱東風；他終日不斷地加多謊騙和暴戾；同亞述立約，給埃及送油。

以法蓮餐風、追隨東風、妄誕殘暴日增、且與亞述結盟、貢油於埃及、

以法蓮族詭詐暴虐、日甚一日、與亞述人結約、貢油於埃及、猶之餐風而追東風、

以法蓮食風而追東風、日增虛誑強暴、與亞述結盟、貢油於伊及、或作以法蓮日增虛誑強暴與亞述結盟貢油於伊及地乃如捕風

Ephraim feeds on the wind; he pursues the east wind all day and multiplies lies and violence. He makes a treaty with Assyria and sends olive oil to Egypt.

Ephraim feeds on the wind and pursues the east wind all day long; they multiply falsehood and violence; they make a covenant with Assyria, and oil is carried to Egypt.

The people of Israel feed on the wind; they chase after the east wind all day long. They pile up lies and violence; they are making an alliance with Assyria while sending olive oil to buy support from Egypt.

Ephraim chases the wind and pursues the east wind. He continually multiplies lies and violence. He makes a covenant with Assyria, and olive oil is carried to Egypt.

Ephraim feeds on wind, And pursues the east wind continually; He multiplies lies and violence. Moreover, he makes a covenant with Assyria, And oil is brought to Egypt.

“ Ephraim feeds on the wind, And pursues the east wind; He daily increases lies and desolation. Also they make a covenant with the Assyrians, And oil is carried to Egypt.

Ephraim feedeth on wind, and followeth after the east wind: he continually multiplieth lies and desolation; and they make a covenant with Assyria, and oil is carried into Egypt.

Ephraim chases the wind and pursues the east wind. He continually multiplies lies and violence. He makes a covenant with Assyria, and olive oil is carried to Egypt.

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.

Ephraim continually feeds on the wind; he chases the east wind all day; he multiplies lies and violence. They make treaties with Assyria, and send olive oil as tribute to Egypt.

Ephraim feeds on wind, and chases the east wind. He continually multiplies lies and desolation. They make a covenant with Assyria, and oil is carried into Egypt.

The people of Ephraim tell me nothing but lies. Israel has not been honest with me. And Judah continues to wander away from God. They have deserted the faithful Holy One.

The wind will drive away all your shepherds. All those who were going to help you will be carried off as prisoners. Then you will be dishonored and put to shame. That will happen because you have been so sinful.

It has been planted, but will it grow? No. It will dry up completely when the east wind strikes it. It will dry up in the place where it grew.” ’ ”

“ The people of Ephraim saw how sick they were. The people of Judah saw that they were wounded. Then Ephraim turned to Assyria for help. They sent gifts to the great King Tiglath- Pileser. But he is not able to make you well. He can’t heal your wounds.

Here is a prophecy the Lord gave me about the animals in the Negev Desert. Judah’s messengers carry their riches on the backs of donkeys. They carry their treasures on the humps of camels. They travel through a land of danger and suffering. It’s a land filled with lions. Poisonous snakes are also there. The messengers travel to a nation that can’t do them any good.They travel to Egypt, whose help is totally useless. That’s why I call it Rahab the Do- Nothing.

Then Tiglath- Pileser marched into the land of Israel. He was king of Assyria. Menahem gave him 38 tons of silver to get his help. He wanted to make his control over the kingdom stronger.

But the king of Assyria found out that Hoshea had turned against him. Hoshea had sent messengers to So, the king of Egypt. Hoshea didn’t send gifts to the king of Assyria anymore. He had been sending them every year. So Shalmaneser grabbed him and put him in prison.The king of Assyria marched into the whole land of Israel. He marched to Samaria and surrounded it for three years. From time to time he attacked it.Finally, the king of Assyria captured Samaria. It was in the ninth year of Hoshea. The king of Assyria took the Israelites away from their own land. He sent them off to Assyria. He made some of them live in Halah. He made others live in Gozan on the Habor River. And he made others live in the towns of the Medes.

The Lord says,“ Worshiping other gods is like worshiping the wind. It is like planting worthless seeds. Assyria is like a windstorm. That is all my people will harvest. There are no heads of grain on the stems that will come up. So they will not produce any flour. Even if they did produce grain, the Assyrians would eat all of it up.

“ Job, would a wise person answer with a lot of meaningless talk? Would they fill their stomach with the hot east wind?