Hosea 12

1 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.

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.

2 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.

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

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

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

4 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—

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

8 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.”

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.”

9 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.

“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.

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

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

11 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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

14 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.

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