Hosea 12

¹Ephraim's food is the wind, and he goes after the east wind: deceit and destruction are increasing day by day; they make an agreement with Assyria, and take oil into Egypt.

²The Lord has a cause against Judah, and will give punishment to Jacob for his ways; he will give him the reward of his acts.

³In the body of his mother he took his brother by the foot, and in his strength he was fighting with God;

⁴He had a fight with the angel and overcame him; he made request for grace to him with weeping; he came face to face with him in Beth-el and there his words came to him;

⁵Even the Lord, the God of armies; the Lord is his name.

⁶So then, come back to your God; keep mercy and right, and be waiting at all times on your God.

⁷As for Canaan, the scales of deceit are in his hands; he takes pleasure in twisted ways.

⁸And Ephraim said, Now I have got wealth and much property; in all my works no sin may be seen in me.

⁹But I am the Lord your God from the land of Egypt; I will give you tents for your living-places again as in the days of the holy meeting.

¹⁰My word came to the ears of the prophets and I gave them visions in great number, and by the mouths of the prophets I made use of comparisons.

¹¹In Gilead there is evil. They are quite without value; in Gilgal they make offerings of oxen; truly their altars are like masses of stones in the hollows of a ploughed field.

¹²And Jacob went in flight into the field of Aram, and Israel became a servant for a wife, and for a wife he kept sheep.

¹³And by a prophet the Lord made Israel come up out of Egypt, and by a prophet he was kept safe.

¹⁴I have been bitterly moved to wrath by Ephraim; so that his blood will be on him, and the Lord will make his shame come back on him.

Hosea 12

¹Ephraim feeds on wind, and chases the east wind. He continually multiplies lies and desolation. They make a covenant with Assyria, and oil is carried into Egypt.

²The Lord also has a controversy with Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways; according to his deeds he will repay him.

³In the womb he took his brother by the heel; and in his manhood he contended with God.

⁴Indeed, he struggled with the angel, and prevailed; he wept, and made supplication to him. He found him at Bethel, and there he spoke with us,

⁵even the Lord, the God of Hosts; The Lord is his name of renown!

⁶Therefore turn to your God. Keep kindness and justice, and wait continually for your God.

⁷A merchant has dishonest scales in his hand. He loves to defraud.

⁸Ephraim said, "Surely I have become rich, I have found myself wealth. In all my wealth they won't find in me any iniquity that is sin."

⁹"But I am the Lord your God from the land of Egypt. I will yet again make you dwell in tents, as in the days of the solemn feast.

¹⁰I have also spoken to the prophets, and I have multiplied visions; and by the ministry of the prophets I have used parables.

¹¹If Gilead is wicked, surely they are worthless. In Gilgal they sacrifice bulls. Indeed, their altars are like heaps in the furrows of the field.

¹²Jacob fled into the country of Aram, and Israel served to get a wife, and for a wife he tended flocks and herds.

¹³By a prophet the Lord brought Israel up out of Egypt, and by a prophet he was preserved.

¹⁴Ephraim has bitterly provoked anger. Therefore his blood will be left on him, and his Lord will repay his contempt.