Add parallel Print Page Options

11 Ephraim was like a cow that I had taught to stamp on grain.[a]
She loved to work for me.
But now I will make her do hard work!
I will put a heavy yoke on her beautiful neck.
Judah will also have to plough the ground.
Jacob's descendants must work to dig up the hard ground.[b]
12 Be like a farmer who plants good seed.
Plant things that are good and right.
Then your harvest will be faithful love.
Plough the hard ground and prepare it for the Lord to bless you.
It is time for you to turn back to the Lord.
Then he will bless you with good things,
like rain that falls on the ground!
13 But instead, you have planted evil things.
So your harvest is terrible trouble.
The food that you eat comes from your lies.
You trusted in your own strength to save you.
You thought that your strong army would keep you safe.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 10:11 Farmers used cows to stamp on grain, so that the seeds of grain became separate from the chaff.
  2. 10:11 Jacob's descendants were the people of Israel. God changed Jacob's name to ‘Israel’.