Hosea 12

1 Ephraim feedeth on the wind, and followeth the burning heat: all the day long he multiplied lies and desolation: and he hath made a covenant with the Assyrians, and carried oil into Egypt.

But Ephraim is an evil spirit, he has chased the east wind all the day: he has multiplied empty and vain things, and made a covenant with the Assyrians, and oil has gone in the way of traffic into Egypt.

2 Therefore there is a judgment of the Lord with Juda, and a visitation for Jacob: he will render to him according to his ways, and according to his devices.

And the Lord [has] a controversy with Juda, in order to punish Jacob: according to his ways and according to his practices will he recompense him.

3 In the womb he supplanted his brother: and by his strength he had success with an angel.

He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and in his labours he had power with God.

4 And he prevailed over the angel, and was strengthened: he wept, and made supplication to him: he found him in Bethel, and there he spoke with us.

And he prevailed with the angel and was strong: they wept, and entreated me: they found me in the house of On, and there [a word] was spoken to them.

5 Even the Lord the God of hosts, the Lord is his memorial.

But the Lord God Almighty shall be his memorial.

6 Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep mercy and judgment, and hope in thy God always.

You therefore shall return to your God: keep you mercy and judgement, and draw near to your God continually.

7 He is like Chanaan, there is a deceitful balance in his hand, he hath loved oppression.

[As for] Chanaan, in his hand is a balance of unrighteousness: he has loved to tyrannize.

8 And Ephraim said: But yet I am become rich, I have found me an idol: all my labours shall not find me the iniquity that I have committed.

And Ephraim said, Nevertheless I am rich, I have found refreshment to myself. None of his labours shall be found [available] to him, by reason of the sins which he has committed.

9 And I that am the Lord thy God from the land of Egypt, will yet cause thee to dwell in tabernacles, as in the days of the feast.

But I the Lord your God brought you up out of the land of Egypt: I will yet cause you to dwell in tabernacles, according to the days of the feast.

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

And I will speak to the prophets, and I have multiplied visions, and by the means of the prophets I was represented.

11 If Galaad be an idol, then in vain were they in Galgal offering sacrifices with bullocks: for their altars also are as heaps in the furrows of the field.

If Galaad exists not, then the chiefs in Galaad when they sacrificed were false, and their altars were as heaps on the ground of the field.

12 Jacob fled into the country of Syria, and Israel served for a wife, and was a keeper for a wife.

And Jacob retreated into the plain of Syria, and Israel served for a wife, and waited for a wife.

13 But the Lord by a prophet brought Israel out of Egypt: and he was preserved by a prophet.

And the Lord brought Israel out of the land of Egypt by a prophet, and by a prophet was he preserve.

14 Ephraim hath provoked me to wrath with his bitterness, and his blood shall come upon him, and his Lord will render his reproach unto him.

Ephraim was angry and excited, therefore his blood shall be poured out upon him, and the Lord shall recompense to him his reproach.