Hosea 12

1 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.

Ephraim feedeth on wind, and followeth after the east wind: he continually multiplieth lies and desolation; and they make a covenant with Assyria, and oil is carried into Egypt.

2 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.

The LORD hath also a controversy with Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways; according to his doings will he recompense him.

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

In the womb he took his brother by the heel; and in his manhood he had power with God:

4 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.

yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed: he wept, and made supplication unto him: he found him at Beth-el, and there he spake with us;

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

even the LORD, the God of hosts; the LORD is his memorial.

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

Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep mercy and judgment, and wait on thy God continually.

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

[He is] a trafficker, the balances of deceit are in his hand: he loveth to oppress.

8 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.”

And Ephraim said, Surely I am become rich, I have found me wealth: in all my labours they shall find in me none iniquity that were sin.

9 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.

But I am the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt; I will yet again make thee to dwell in tents, as in the days of the solemn feast.

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

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

11 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.

Is Gilead iniquity? they are altogether vanity; in Gilgal they sacrifice bullocks: yea, their altars are as heaps in the furrows of the field.

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

And Jacob fled into the field of Aram, and Israel served for a wife, and for a wife he kept [sheep].

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

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

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

Ephraim hath provoked to anger most bitterly: therefore shall his blood be left upon him, and his reproach shall his Lord return unto him.