Hosea 12

1 Ephraim's food is the wind, and he goes after the east wind: deceit and destruction are increasing day by day; they make an agreement with Assyria, and take oil into Egypt.

Ephraim is fed with the winde, and followeth after the East winde: hee increaseth daily lies and destruction, and they do make a couenant with Asshur, and oyle is caried into Egypt.

2 The Lord has a cause against Judah, and will give punishment to Jacob for his ways; he will give him the reward of his acts.

The Lord hath also a controuersie with Iudah, and will visite Iaakob, according to his waies: according to his workes, wil he recompence him.

3 In the body of his mother he took his brother by the foot, and in his strength he was fighting with God;

Hee tooke his brother by the heele in the wombe, and by his strength he had power with God,

4 He had a fight with the angel and overcame him; he made request for grace to him with weeping; he came face to face with him in Beth-el and there his words came to him;

And had power ouer the Angel, and preuailed: he wept and praied vnto him: he founde him in Beth-el, and there he spake with vs.

5 Even the Lord, the God of armies; the Lord is his name.

Yea, the Lord God of hostes, the Lord is himselfe his memoriall.

6 So then, come back to your God; keep mercy and right, and be waiting at all times on your God.

Therefore turne thou to thy God: keepe mercy and iudgement, and hope still in thy God.

7 As for Canaan, the scales of deceit are in his hands; he takes pleasure in twisted ways.

He is Canaan: the balances of deceit are in his hand: he loueth to oppresse.

8 And Ephraim said, Now I have got wealth and much property; in all my works no sin may be seen in me.

And Ephraim saide, Notwithstanding I am rich, I haue found me out riches in all my labours: they shall finde none iniquitie in me, that were wickednesse.

9 But I am the Lord your God from the land of Egypt; I will give you tents for your living-places again as in the days of the holy meeting.

Though I am the Lord thy God, from the land of Egypt, yet will I make thee to dwel in the tabernacles, as in the daies of the solemne feast.

10 My word came to the ears of the prophets and I gave them visions in great number, and by the mouths of the prophets I made use of comparisons.

I haue also spoken by the Prophets, and I haue multiplied visions, and vsed similitudes by the ministerie of the Prophets.

11 In Gilead there is evil. They are quite without value; in Gilgal they make offerings of oxen; truly their altars are like masses of stones in the hollows of a ploughed field.

Is there iniquitie in Gilead? surely they are vanitie: they sacrifice bullocks in Gilgal, and their altars are as heapes in the furrowes of the field.

12 And Jacob went in flight into the field of Aram, and Israel became a servant for a wife, and for a wife he kept sheep.

And Iaakob fled into the countrey of Aram, and Israel serued for a wife, and for a wife he kept sheepe.

13 And by a prophet the Lord made Israel come up out of Egypt, and by a prophet he was kept safe.

And by a Prophet the Lord brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a Prophet was he reserued.

14 I have been bitterly moved to wrath by Ephraim; so that his blood will be on him, and the Lord will make his shame come back on him.

But Ephraim prouoked him with hie places: therefore shall his blood be powred vpon him, and his reproche shall his Lord reward him.