Hosea 12

1 Ephraim herds the wind and hunts the sirocco. All day long they heap up falsehood and fraud, make a treaty with Assyria, and sends tribute of olive oil to 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 The Lord has a charge to bring against Israel, to punish Jacob for his acts, according to his deeds will he requite him,

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, in manhood he wrestled with God,

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

4 He wrestled with the angel and prevailed, he wept and sought his blessing. At Bethel the Lord found him, 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 And the Lord is the God of hosts, the Lord is his name!

But the Lord God Almighty shall be his memorial.

6 So now, by the help of your God, return. Keep true love and justice. Trust in your God without ceasing.

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

7 A merchant uses false scales: They love to defraud.

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

8 Ephraim says, ‘Yes, I have become rich, I have secured wealth for myself. But despite my gains no one will find a crime I can be convicted of!’

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

9 I am the Lord your God, ever since the land of Egypt. I will make you again dwell in tents, as in days of old.

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 I spoke continually by the prophets. It was I who multiplied visions, and spoke in parables through 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 In Gilead is iniquity, they will come to nothing. In Gilgal they sacrifice bulls, so their altars will be as stone heaps, among 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 And Jacob fled to the territory of Aram, and Israel worked to earn a wife: for a wife he herded sheep.

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

13 The Lord brought Israel up from Egypt by a prophet, and by a prophet Israel was guarded.

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

14 Ephraim has given bitter provocation. His Lord will leave upon him his guilt of bloodshed, and for his contempt he will repay him.

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