Hosea 12
1 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.
厄弗辣因愛好颶風，整日追逐東風，說許多謊話，行許多暴行，既與亞述結盟，又給埃及送油。
2 The LORD also has a controversy with Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways; according to his deeds he will repay him.
上主要與以色列爭辯，要按他們的行徑懲罰雅各伯，依照他的行為報復他：
3 In the womb he took his brother by the heel, and in his manhood he contended with God.
他在母胎中就欺騙了他的弟兄，及至壯年又曾與天神搏鬥；
4 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—
他與天神博鬥，並且獲得了勝利；他哭了，曾懇求他開恩；在貝特耳再遇見了他，在那裏天主對他說：──
5 even the LORD, the God of Armies. The LORD is his name of renown!
上主，萬軍的天主，雅威是他的名號x──
6 Therefore turn to your God. Keep kindness and justice, and wait continually for your God.
「至於你，你應當歸向你的天主，遵守仁愛和正義，時刻仰望你的天主。」
7 A merchant has dishonest scales in his hand. He loves to defraud.
厄弗辣因有如客納罕人，手裏拿著欺詐的天秤，喜行欺騙。
8 Ephraim said, “Surely I have become rich. I have found myself wealth. In all my wealth they will not find in me any iniquity that is sin.”
厄弗辣因說：「我現在實在成了富翁，發了大財。」然而他所獲得的一切，為補贖他所犯的罪孽，仍嫌不夠。
9 “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.
自從在埃及地時，我就是上主，你的天主：我必再使你住在帳幕中，如在盛會的節日一樣。
10 I have also spoken to the prophets, and I have multiplied visions; and by the ministry of the prophets I have used parables.
是我向先知們說了話，是我增多了異象，我也必藉先知們消滅他們。
11 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.
在基肋阿得只有罪惡，的確，他們只是虛無；在基耳加耳 他們向牛犢獻了祭，因此他們的祭壇必將成為田畦中的石堆。
12 Jacob fled into the country of Aram. Israel served to get a wife. For a wife he tended flocks and herds.
雅各伯曾逃到阿蘭平原，以色列曾為娶妻而服役，曾為娶妻而放羊。
13 By a prophet the LORD brought Israel up out of Egypt, and by a prophet he was preserved.
上主曾藉一位先知領以色列出離埃及，也藉一位先知保護了他們。
14 Ephraim has bitterly provoked anger. Therefore his blood will be left on him, and his Lord will repay his contempt.
但厄弗辣因大大激怒了上主，他的血債必要歸到他身上，他的主必要在他身上報復自己受的凌辱。
