Ephraim feeds on wind, and follows after the east wind; all the day he multiplies lies and ruin. And they cut a covenant with Assyria, and oil is carried into Egypt.
Pul the king of Assyria came against the land, and Menahem gave a thousand talents of silver to Pul, that his hand might be with him to confirm the kingdom in his hand.
And behold, being planted, shall it prosper? Withering shall it not wither when the east wind touches it? It shall wither in the beds where it sprouted.
I will not execute the heat of My anger; I will not return to destroy Ephraim. For I am God, and not a man, the Holy One in your midst. And I will not enter into the city.
When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah his wound, then Ephraim went to Assyria, and sent to King Jareb. And he was not able to heal you, and not did he cure you of your wound.
When I would have healed Israel, then the iniquity of Ephraim was uncovered, and the evil of Samaria. For they have worked falsehood; and a thief comes; a troop of robbers plunders outside.
For they sow the wind, and they reap the storm wind. A stalk is not to him; the bud shall make no flour. If it does make it, strangers will swallow it up.