10:11 Ephraim was a well-trained heifer who loved to thresh grain;
I myself put a fine yoke 1 on her neck.
I will harness Ephraim.
Let Judah plow! 2
Let Jacob break up 3 the unplowed ground for himself!
10:12 Sow righteousness for yourselves,
reap unfailing love.
Break up the unplowed ground for yourselves,
for it is time to seek the Lord,
until he comes and showers deliverance 4 on you.
1 tc The MT is unintelligible: עַל־טוּב (’al-tuv, “upon a fine [thing]”?). Cf. KJV “I passed over upon her fair neck”; NRSV “I spared her fair neck.” The BHS editors suggest the revocalization עֹל־טוּב (’ol-tuv, “a fine yoke”), followed by many modern English versions (e.g., NAB, NASB, NIV, NCV, TEV, NLT). The noun עֹל (’ol, “yoke”) also appears in 11:4 in a metaphor which compares Israel to a young heifer as well.
2 tn Or “Judah will plow” (so NASB); NIV, NRSV, CEV “Judah must plow.”
3 tn Or “Jacob will break up.”
4 tn Or “righteousness” (so KJV, NASB, NIV, NRSV, NLT); NAB “justice.”