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 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.

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 also has a controversy with Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways; according to his deeds he will repay him.

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

In the womb he took his brother by the heel, and in his manhood he contended 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;

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—

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

even the LORD, the God of Hosts. The LORD is his name of renown!

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

Therefore turn to your God. Keep kindness and justice, and wait continually for your God.

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

A merchant has dishonest scales in his hand. He loves to defraud.

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

Ephraim said, “Surely I have become rich. I have found myself wealth. In all my wealth they won’t find in me any iniquity that is sin.”

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.

“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.

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 have also spoken to the prophets, and I have multiplied visions; and by the ministry of the prophets I have used parables.

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.

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.

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.

Jacob fled into the country of Aram. Israel served to get a wife. For a wife he tended flocks and herds.

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

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

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.

Ephraim has bitterly provoked anger. Therefore his blood will be left on him, and his Lord will repay his contempt.