Ephraim was like a well- trained young cow. It loved to thresh grain. So I will put a yoke on its pretty neck. I will make Ephraim do hard work. Judah also must plow. So all the people of Jacob must break up the ground.

“以法莲是驯良的母牛犊，喜爱踹谷，我却将轭加在它肥美的颈项上，我要使以法莲拉套。犹大必耕田；雅各必耙地。

以法莲是驯良的母牛犊，喜爱踹谷，我要将轭套在它肥美的颈项上，我要使以法莲被套住；犹大必耕田，雅各必耙地。

以法莲是驯良的母牛犊，喜爱踹谷，我要将轭套在它肥美的颈项上，我要使以法莲被套住；犹大必耕田，雅各必耙地。

以法莲本是驯服的母牛犊，喜欢打谷，现在我要把轭套在它肥美的颈项上。我要使犹大耕田，使雅各耙地。”

以法莲是一头驯服的母牛犊，喜爱踹谷；我却要把轭扣在它肥美的颈项上，我要使以法莲拖犁；犹大要耕田，雅各必为自己耙地。

以法蓮是馴良的母牛犢，喜愛踹穀，我卻將軛加在牠肥美的頸項上，我要使以法蓮拉套。猶大必耕田；雅各必耙地。

以法蓮是馴良的母牛犢，喜愛踹穀，我要將軛套在牠肥美的頸項上，我要使以法蓮被套住；猶大必耕田，雅各必耙地。

以法蓮是馴良的母牛犢，喜愛踹穀，我要將軛套在牠肥美的頸項上，我要使以法蓮被套住；猶大必耕田，雅各必耙地。

以法蓮本是馴服的母牛犢，喜歡打穀，現在我要把軛套在牠肥美的頸項上。我要使猶大耕田，使雅各耙地。」

以法蓮是一頭馴服的母牛犢，喜愛踹穀；我卻要把軛扣在牠肥美的頸項上，我要使以法蓮拖犁；猶大要耕田，雅各必為自己耙地。

以法蓮是馴良的母牛犢，喜愛踹穀；我乃將軛加在，牠肥美的脖子上；使以法蓮拉套耕田，使雅各為自己耙地。

以法蓮乃馴習之牝犢、喜於踏穀、昔我惜其項之美、今則使之曳耒耜、猶大耕之、雅各耙之、

以法蓮若馴伏之犢、善於碾穀、其項甚美、置軛於上、使以法蓮曳車、猶大耕耘、雅各鋤地、

以法蓮若馴伏之犢、喜於踏穀、我加軛於其美項、使以法蓮曳車、車或作犁使猶大耕地、使雅各鈀平土塊、

Ephraim is a trained heifer that loves to thresh; so I will put a yoke on her fair neck. I will drive Ephraim, Judah must plow, and Jacob must break up the ground.

Ephraim was a trained calf that loved to thresh, and I spared her fair neck; but I will put Ephraim to the yoke; Judah must plow; Jacob must harrow for himself.

“ Israel is like a trained heifer treading out the grain— an easy job she loves. But I will put a heavy yoke on her tender neck. I will force Judah to pull the plow and Israel to break up the hard ground.

Ephraim is a well-trained calf that loves to thresh, but I will place a yoke on her fine neck. I will harness Ephraim; Judah will plow; Jacob will do the final plowing.

Ephraim is a trained heifer that loves to thresh, And I passed over her lovely neck; I will harness Ephraim, Judah will plow, Jacob will harrow for himself.

Ephraim is a trained heifer That loves to thresh grain; But I harnessed her fair neck, I will make Ephraim pull a plow. Judah shall plow; Jacob shall break his clods.”

And Ephraim is a heifer that is taught, that loveth to tread out the grain; but I have passed over upon her fair neck: I will set a rider on Ephraim; Judah shall plow, Jacob shall break his clods.

Ephraim is a well-trained calf that loves to thresh, but I will place a yoke on her fine neck. I will harness Ephraim; Judah will plow; Jacob will do the final plowing.

And Ephraim[ is as] an heifer[ that is] taught,[ and] loveth to tread out[ the corn]; but I passed over upon her fair neck: I will make Ephraim to ride; Judah shall plow,[ and] Jacob shall break his clods.

Ephraim was a well-trained heifer who loved to thresh grain; I myself put a fine yokeon her neck. I will harness Ephraim. Let Judah plow! Let Jacob break up the unplowed ground for himself!

Ephraim is a trained heifer that loves to thresh; so I will put a yoke on her beautiful neck. I will set a rider on Ephraim. Judah will plow. Jacob will break his clods.

The people of Israel are stubborn. They are as stubborn as a young cow. So how can I take care of them like lambs in a meadow?

“ People of Babylon, you have stolen what belongs to me. That has made you glad and full of joy. You dance around like a young cow on a threshing floor. You neigh like stallions.

Don’t stop an ox from eating while you use it to separate grain from straw.

People like that are not serving Christ our Lord. They are serving only themselves. With smooth talk and with words they don’t mean they fool people who don’t know any better.

So the Lord his God handed him over to the king of Aram. The men of Aram won the battle over him. They took many of his people as prisoners. They brought them to Damascus. God also handed Ahaz over to Pekah. Pekah was king of Israel. His army wounded or killed many of the troops of Ahaz.In one day Pekah, the son of Remaliah, killed 120,000 soldiers in Judah. That’s because Judah had deserted the Lord, the God of their people.Zikri was a fighting man from Ephraim. He killed Maaseiah, Azrikam and Elkanah. Maaseiah was the king’s son. Azrikam was the officer who was in charge of the palace. And Elkanah was next in command after the king.The men of Israel captured 200,000 wives, sons and daughters from their relatives in Judah. They also took a large amount of goods. They carried all of it back to Samaria.

Their mother hasn’t been faithful to me. She who became pregnant with them has brought shame on herself. She said,‘ I will chase after my lovers. They give me my food and water. They provide me with wool and linen. They give me olive oil and wine.’

When a farmer plows in order to plant, does he plow without stopping? Does he keep on breaking up the soil and making the field level?

The Lord said to me,“ Go. Show your love to your wife again. She is loved by another man. And she has committed adultery. But I want you to love her just as I love the people of Israel. They turn to other gods. And they love to offer raisin cakes to Baal and eat them. In spite of that, I love my people.”

Israel, don’t be joyful. Don’t be glad as the other nations are. You haven’t been faithful to your God. You love to get paid for being a prostitute. Your pay is the grain at every threshing floor.

I led them with kindness and love. I was to them like a person who lifts a little child to their cheek. I bent down and fed them.