Hosea 12

1 Ephraim chases the wind and pursues the east wind all day long; he multiplies lies and violence; he makes a covenant with Assyria and sends olive oil to Egypt.

Ephraim feeds on wind and follows burning heat; all day long he multiplies lies and desolation. And he has entered into a pact with the Assyrians, and he has carried oil into Egypt.

2 The LORD also brings a charge against Judah. He will punish Jacob according to his ways and repay him according to his deeds.

Therefore, the judgment of the Lord is with Judah and a visitation is upon Jacob. He will repay him according to his ways and according to his inventions.

3 In the womb he grasped his brother’s heel, and in his vigor he wrestled with God.

In the womb, he supplanted his brother; for in his good fortune, he had been guided by an angel.

4 Yes, he struggled with the angel and prevailed; he wept and sought His favor; he found Him at Bethel and spoke with Him there —

And he prevailed over an angel, for he had been strengthened. He wept and petitioned him. He found him in Bethel, and there he has spoken to us.

5 the LORD is the God of Hosts— the LORD is His name of renown.

And the Lord God of hosts, the Lord is his memorial.

6 But you must return to your God, maintaining love and justice, and always waiting on your God.

And so, you should convert to your God. Keep mercy and judgment, and have hope in your God always.

7 A merchant loves to defraud with dishonest scales in his hands.

Canaan, in his hand is a deceitful balance, he has chosen false accusations.

8 And Ephraim boasts: “How rich I have become! I have found wealth for myself. In all my labors, they can find in me no iniquity that is sinful.”

And Ephraim has said, “Nevertheless, I have become rich; I have found an idol for myself. All of my labors will not reveal to me the iniquity that I have committed.”

9 But I am the LORD your God ever since the land of Egypt. I will again make you dwell in tents, as in the days of the appointed feast.

And I, the Lord your God from the land of Egypt, nevertheless will cause you to dwell in tabernacles, just as during the days of the feast.

10 I spoke through the prophets and multiplied their visions; I gave parables through the prophets.

And I have spoken through the prophets, and I have multiplied visions, and I have used parables through the hands of the prophets.

11 Is there iniquity in Gilead? They will surely come to nothing. Do they sacrifice bulls in Gilgal? Indeed, their altars will be heaps of stones in the furrows of the field.

If Gilead is an idol, then they have been sacrificing cattle in Gilgal to no purpose. For even their altars are like clutter on the soil of the field.

12 Jacob fled to the land of Aram and Israel worked for a wife— for a wife he tended sheep.

Jacob fled into the region of Syria, and Israel served like a wife, and was served by a wife.

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

Yet by a prophet the Lord led Israel out of Egypt, and he was served by a prophet.

14 Ephraim has provoked bitter anger, so his Lord will leave his bloodguilt upon him and repay him for his contempt.

Ephraim has provoked me to wrath with his bitterness, and his blood will overcome him, and his Lord will requite him for his shamefulness.