Hosea 12

1 Ephraim feedeth on wind, and followeth after the east wind: he daily increaseth lies and desolation; and they do make a covenant with the Assyrians, and oil is carried into 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 hath also a controversy with Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways; according to his doings will he recompense him.

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

3 He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and by his strength he had power with God:

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

4 Yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed: he wept, and made supplication unto him: he found him [in] Beth-el, and there he spake with us;

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 Even the LORD God of hosts; the LORD [is] his memorial.

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

6 Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep mercy and judgment, and wait on thy God continually.

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

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

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

8 And Ephraim said, Yet 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 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 And I [that am] the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt will yet make thee to dwell in tabernacles, as in the days of the solemn feast.

“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 have also spoken by the prophets, and I have multiplied visions, and used similitudes, by the ministry of 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 [Is there] iniquity [in] Gilead? surely they are vanity: they sacrifice bullocks in Gilgal; yea, their altars [are] as heaps in the furrows of the fields.

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 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 in order to get a wife; and he kept flocks of sheep to get a wife.

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

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

14 Ephraim provoked [him] to anger most bitterly: therefore shall he leave his blood upon him, and his reproach shall his Lord return unto him.

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