7 A merchant has false scales in his hands.

≈ He loves to oppress.

8 Efrayim/Yisrael said, “Fantastic. I’ve become rich.

I’ve found wealth for myself.

In all my labours they won’t find disobedience in me,

which would be sin.”

9 “I’m Yahweh your god since I rescued you from Egypt.

I’ll make you live in shelters again,

as in the days of that particular festival.[ref]

10 I spoke to the prophets,

and gave them many visions.

By the hand of the prophets I gave parables.”

11 If there’s disobedience in Gilead,

surely they’re worthless.

In Gilgal they sacrifice bulls.

Their altars also will be like piles of stones beside the furrows in the fields.

12 Yakov fled to Syria (Heb. Aram).

Yisrael worked to earn a wife,

and for a wife, he kept sheep.[ref]

13 Yahweh used the prophet Mosheh to bring Yisrael out of Egypt,

and so Yisrael was preserved by a prophet.[ref]

14 Efrayim has provoked bitter anger,

so his master will hold him to account for bloodshed

and will turn his insults back onto himself.