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 wind, and chases the east wind. He continually multiplies lies and desolation. They make a covenant with Assyria, and oil is carried into 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.

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

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

In the womb he took his brother by the heel, and in his manhood he contended 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—

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—

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

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

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

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

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

A merchant has dishonest scales in his hand. He loves 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, “Surely I have become rich. I have found myself wealth. In all my wealth they won’t find in me any iniquity that is 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.

“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.

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

I have also spoken to the prophets, and I have multiplied visions; and by the ministry of the prophets I have used 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 Gilead is wicked, surely they are worthless. In Gilgal they sacrifice bulls. Indeed, their altars are like heaps in the furrows of the field.

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

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

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

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

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