Hosea 12

1 Ephraim 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.

Ephraim feedeth on wind, and pursueth the east wind; the whole day he increaseth deceit and corruption; and a covenant do they make with Assyria, and oil is carried into Egypt.

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

But with Judah also hath the Lord [to hold] a controversy; and to punish Jacob according to his ways, according to his doings will he recompense him.

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

In the womb he took his brother by the heel, and in his strength he strove with an angel.

4 Indeed, 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—

Yea, he strove with an angel, and prevailed; he wept, and made supplication unto him: in Beth-el he should find him, and there he will speak with us.

5 even the LORD, the God of Armies. The LORD is his name of renown!

And the Lord God of hosts, the Eternal One is his memorial.

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

Therefore do thou return to thy God: keep goodness and justice, and wait on thy God continually.

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

But like a merchant, who hath the balances of deceit in his hand, loving to overreach,

8 Ephraim said, “Surely I have become rich. I have found myself wealth. In all my wealth they will not find in me any iniquity that is sin.”

Did Ephraim say, I am certainly become rich, I have acquired substance unto myself: it is all through my labors; they will find no iniquity in me, that could be 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.

And I am the Lord thy God from the land of Egypt: I will yet make thee dwell in tents, as in the days of antiquity.

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

And I have spoken through the prophets, and I myself have multiplied visions, and by the means of the prophets have I spoken in similitudes.

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

If in Gil'ad there was misfortune, [it is because] there was naught but idolatry; in Gilgal they sacrificed bullocks [to idols]: their altars also are as stone-heaps on the furrows of the fields.

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

And Jacob fled into the fields of Syria, and Israel served for a wife, and for a wife he kept [the flocks].

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

And by a prophet did the Lord bring Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet was he guarded.

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

[Yet] Ephraim provoked [him] to anger most bitterly: therefore will his Lord cast his blood-guiltiness upon him, and his reproach will he recompense unto him.