Baalim, and burned incense to graven images. I taught Ephraim also to go, taking them by their arms; but they knew not that I healed them. I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love: and I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws, and I laid meat unto them. He shall not return into the land of Egypt, but the Assyrian shall be his king, because they refused to return. And the sword shall abide on his cities, and shall consume his branches, and devour them, because of their own counsels. And my people are bent to backsliding from me: though they called them to the most High, none at all would exalt him. How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? how shall I deliver thee, Israel? how shall I make thee as Admah? how shall I set thee as Zeboim? mine heart is turned within me, my repentings are kindled together. I will not execute the fierceness of mine anger, I will not return to destroy Ephraim: for I am God, and not man; the Holy One in the midst. of thee and I will not enter into the city. They shall walk after the Lord: he shall roar like a lion: when he shall roar, then the children shall tremble from the west. They shall tremble as a bird out of Egypt, and as a dove out of the land of Assyria: and I will place them in their houses, saith the Lord. Ephraim compasseth me about with lies, and the house of Israel with deceit but Judah yet ruleth with God, and is faithful with the saints. 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,

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and oil is carried into Egypt. And Ephrai Yet I am become rich, I have found me ot stance in all my labours they shall find no quity in me that were sin. And I that Lord thy God from the land of Egypt w make thee to dwell in tabernacles, as in th of the solemn feast. I have also spoken prophets, and I have multiplied visions, and similitudes, by the ministry of the prophe there iniquity in Gilead? surely they are v they sacrifice bullocks in Gilgal; yea, their are as heaps in the furrows of the fields.

And Jacob fled into the country of Syria Israel served for a wife, and for a wife he sheep. And by a prophet the Lord brought out of Egypt, and by a prophet was he pres Ephraim provoked him to anger most bit therefore shall he leave his blood upon him, a reproach shall his Lord return unto him.

When Ephraim spake trembling, he exalted self in Israel; but when he offended in Ba died. And now they sin more and more, and made them molten images of their silver, and according to their own understanding, all of work of the craftsmen: they say of them, L men that sacrifice kiss the calves. Therefore shall be as the morning cloud, and as the earl that passeth away, as the chaff that is driver the whirlwind out of the floor, and as the smol of the chimney. Yet I am the Lord thy God the land of Fovnt and thou shalt I

- thine iniquity. Take with you words, he Lord: say unto him, Take away all receive us graciously: so will we renes of our lips. Asshur shall not save not ride upon horses: neither will we e to the work of our hands, Ye are our thee the fatherless findeth mercy. I eir backsliding, I will love them freely: ger is turned away from him. I will be unto Israel; he shall grow as the lily, th his roots as Lebanon. His branches 1, and his beauty shall be as the olive s smell as Lebanon. They that dwell nadow shall return; they shall revive as nd grow as the vine: the scent thereof the wine of Lebanon. Ephraim shall have I to do any more with idols? I I him, and observed him: I am like a ee from me is thy fruit found. Who dhe shall understand these things? pruhe shall know them? for the ways of the right, and the just shall walk in them: ansgressors shall fall therein.

ORTION (VAY-YISHLACH).

CHAPTER XXXII.

cob sent messengers before him to Esau er unto the land of Seir, the country of

shall ye speak unto my lord Esau; Thy servant Jacob saith thus, I have sojourned with Laban, and stayed there until now and I have oxen, and asses, flocks, and menservants, and womenservants : and I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find grace in thy sight. And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, We came to thy brother Esau, and also he cometh to meet thee, and four hundred men with him. Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed : and he divided the people that was with him, and the flocks, and herds, and the camels, into two bands; and said, If Esau come to the one company, and smite it, then the other company which is left shall escape. And Jacob said, O God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, the Lord which saidst unto me, Return unto thy country, and to thy kindred, and I will deal well with thee: I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast shewed unto thy servant; for with my staff I passed over this Jordan; and now I am become two bands. Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau: for I fear him, lest he will come and smite me, and the mother with the children. And thou saidst, I will surely do thee good, and make thy seed as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.

And he lodged there that same night; and took of that which came to his hand a present for Esau his brother; two hundred she goats, and twenty he goats, two hundred ewes and twenty rams, thirty milch camels with their colts, forty kine, and ten

bulls, twenty she asses, and ten foals. And he delivered them into the hand of his servants, every drove by themselves; and said unto his servants, Pass over before me, and put a space betwixt drove and drove. And he commanded the foremost, saying, When Esau my brother meeteth thee, and asketh thee, saying, Whose art thou? and whither goest thou? and whose are these before thee? Then thou shalt say, They be thy servant Jacob's; it is a present sent unto my lord Esau: and, behold, also he is behind us. And so commanded he the second, and the third, and all that followed the droves, saying, On this manner shall ye speak unto Esau when ye find him. And say ye moreover, Behold, thy servant Jacob is behind us. For he said, I will appease him with the present that goeth before me, and afterward I will see his face; peradventure he will accept of me. So went the present over before him: and himself lodged that night in the company. And he rose up that night, and took his two wives, and his two womenservants, and his eleven sons, and passed over the ford Jabbok. And he took them, and sent them over the brook, and sent over that he had.

And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. And he said unto him, What is thy