Hosea 12

1 Ephraim feeds on the wind and follows after the east wind. He continually multiplies lies and violence. They make a covenant with Assyria and carry olive oil to Egypt.

Ephraim, feedeth on wind, and pursueth the east wind, all the day, falsehood and force, doth he magnify, —and, a covenant with Assyria, would they solemnize, and, oil into Egypt, must be borne along.

2 Yahweh also has a lawsuit against Judah and will punish Jacob for what he has done; he will repay him for his deeds.

But, a controversy, hath Yahweh with Judah, —so that he may bring punishment on Jacob, according to his ways, According to his doings, repay him.

3 In the womb Jacob grasped his brother by the heel, and in his manhood he struggled with God.

In the womb, took he his brother by the heel; and, in his manly vigour, strove he with God:

4 He struggled with the angel and won. He wept and begged for his favor. He met God at Bethel; there God spoke with him.

Yea he strove against a Messenger, and prevailed, he wept, and made supplication unto him, —At Bethel, he found him, and, there, he spake with us;

5 This is Yahweh, the God of hosts; “Yahweh” is his name to be called on.

And, Yahweh, is God of host, —Yahweh, is his memorial.

6 So turn to your God. Keep covenantal faithfulness and justice, and wait continually for your God.

Thou, therefore, by thy God, shalt return, —lovingkindness and justice, do thou keep, so wait thou for thy God, continually.

7 The merchants have false scales in their hands; they love to defraud.

A trafficker! in his hand, are balances of deceit, to oppress, he loveth.

8 Ephraim said, “I have certainly become very rich; I have found wealth for myself. In all my work they will not find any iniquity in me, anything that would be sin.”

So then Ephraim said, Surely I have gotten me riches, I have found wealth for myself, —in all my toils, they cannot find in me perversity which is sin.

9 “I am Yahweh your God from the land of Egypt. I will again make you live in tents, as in the days of the appointed festival.

But, I, Yahweh, have been thy God, from the land of Egypt, —I will yet make thee dwell in tents, as in the days of appointed meeting.

10 I spoke to the prophets, and I gave them many visions for you. By the hand of the prophets I gave parables.”

And I will lay my word upon the prophets, yea, I myself, have magnified, vision, —and, by the hand of the prophets, will I use similitudes.

11 If there is wickedness in Gilead, surely the people are worthless. In Gilgal they sacrifice bulls; their altars will be like heaps of stone in the furrows of the fields.

If, Gilead, is in sorrow, surely false, have they been, In Gilgal, have they sacrificed, bullocks, —their very altars, shall become as heaps upon the furrows of the field.

12 Jacob fled to the land of Aram; Israel worked in order to get a wife; and he kept flocks of sheep to get a wife.

When Jacob fled to the country of Syria, then Israel served for a wife, and, for a wife, he watched over a flock.

13 Yahweh brought Israel out of Egypt by a prophet, and by a prophet he took care of them.

And, by a prophet, Yahweh, brought up, Israel out of Egypt, —and, by a prophet, was he watched over.

14 Ephraim has bitterly angered Yahweh. So his Lord will leave his blood on him and will turn back on him his disgrace.

Ephraim hath provoked, very bitterly, —his own blood, therefore, upon him, will he leave, and, his reproach, shall his Lord, bring back to him.