Hosea 12

1 Ephraim feedeth on wind, and pursueth after the east wind: all day long he multiplieth lies and desolation; and they make a covenant with Assyria, and oil is carried into Egypt.

Ephraim tries to herd the wind, chasing after the east wind all day long. Their lies and violence keep on increasing. They make a treaty with Assyria, and send olive oil to Egypt.

2 Jehovah hath also a controversy with Judah, and he will punish Jacob according to his ways; according to his doings will he recompense him.

The Lord also has an accusation against Judah, and will punish Jacob for the way the people act; he will repay them for what they have done.

3 He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and in his strength he wrestled with God.

Even in the womb he fought with his brother; when he became a man he fought with God.

4 Yea, he wrestled with the Angel, and prevailed; he wept, and made supplication unto him: he found him in Bethel, and there he spoke with us,

He fought with the angel, and he won. He wept, and begged him for a blessing. Jacob found God at Bethel, and spoke with him there—

5 — even Jehovah, the God of hosts, — Jehovah is his memorial.

the Lord God Almighty, the Lord is his memorable name!

6 And thou, return unto thy God: keep loving-kindness and judgment, and wait on thy God continually.

You must return to your God. Act lovingly and do what is right, and always wait for your God.

7 [He is] a merchant, balances of deceit are in his hand; he loveth to oppress.

A merchant who holds in his hands dishonest scales loves to swindle.

8 And Ephraim saith, Nevertheless I am become rich, I have found me out substance; in all my labours they shall find none iniquity in me that were sin.

Ephraim says, “I'm rich! I've made myself wealthy! I've made so much from my work, and nobody can prove me guilty of doing wrong.”

9 But I [that am] Jehovah thy God from the land of Egypt will again make thee to dwell in tents, as in the days of the solemn feast.

But I am the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt. I will make you live again in tents like you do at the time of that particular festival.

10 And I have spoken to the prophets, and I have multiplied visions, and by means of the prophets have I used similitudes.

I spoke through the prophets. I myself gave many visions and parables through the prophets.

11 If Gilead is iniquity, surely they are but vanity: they sacrifice bullocks in Gilgal; yea, their altars are as heaps in the furrows of the fields.

If Gilead is idolatrous, they will surely come to nothing. In Gilgal they sacrifice bulls. Even their altars are like heaps of rocks in the furrows of the field.

12 And Jacob fled into the country of Syria, and Israel served for a wife, and for a wife he kept [sheep].

Jacob fled to the land of Aram; Israel worked there to gain a wife, earning a wife by looking after sheep.

13 And by a prophet Jehovah brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet was he preserved.

Through a prophet the Lord brought Israel up from Egypt, and by a prophet they were cared for.

14 Ephraim provoked [him] to anger most bitterly; and his Lord shall leave his blood upon him, and recompense unto him his reproach.

Ephraim has really upset the Lord, and the Lord will let them have the consequences of their bloodshed and pay them back for their contempt.