“Ephraim
Has surrounded me
With lies.
The house of Israel
Has surrounded me
With deceit.
But Judah
Still walks
With God.
He is faithful
To the Holy One.”
Although the territory of Ephraim and the northern kingdom of Israel had surrounded Yahweh with lies and deceit, Judah still walked with God. Judah had remained faithful to the Holy One, Yahweh.
“Then whoever invokes a blessing
In the land,
They shall bless
By the God of faithfulness.
Whoever takes an oath
In the land,
They shall swear
By the God of faithfulness.
Because the former troubles
Are forgotten.
They are hidden from my sight.”
On the other hand, Yahweh will bless those who were faithful. They will have the power to bless because of their faithfulness to God. If the faithful take an oath, God will help them because their former troubles were forgotten. They were lost out of sight. Blessings come to the faithful.
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 