Hosea 12

1 Ephraim feedeth on wind, and pursueth after the east wind: all day long he multiplieth lies and desolation; and they make a covenant with Assyria, and oil is carried into Egypt.

“Ephraim is enjoying wind, And is pursuing an east wind, All the day he multiplies lying and spoiling, And they make a covenant with Asshur, And oil is carried to Egypt.

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

And YHWH has a controversy with Judah, To lay a charge on Jacob according to his ways, He returns to him according to his doings.

3 He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and in his strength he wrestled with God.

In the womb he took his brother by the heel, And by his strength he was a prince with God,

4 Yea, he wrestled with the Angel, and prevailed; he wept, and made supplication unto him: he found him in Bethel, and there he spoke with us,

Indeed, he is a prince to the Messenger, And he overcomes [by] weeping, And he makes supplication to Him, At Bethel He finds him, And there He speaks with us,

5 — even Jehovah, the God of hosts, — Jehovah is his memorial.

Even YHWH, God of the Hosts, YHWH [is] His memorial.

6 And thou, return unto thy God: keep loving-kindness and judgment, and wait on thy God continually.

And you, through your God, turn, Keep kindness and judgment, And wait on your God continually.

7 [He is] a merchant, balances of deceit are in his hand; he loveth to oppress.

Canaan! In his hand [are] balances of deceit! He has loved to oppress.

8 And Ephraim saith, Nevertheless I am become rich, I have found me out substance; in all my labours they shall find none iniquity in me that were sin.

And Ephraim says, Surely I have become rich, I have found wealth for myself, All my labors—they do not find against me iniquity that [is] sin.

9 But I [that am] Jehovah thy God from the land of Egypt will again make thee to dwell in tents, as in the days of the solemn feast.

And I—your God YHWH from the land of Egypt, Again I turn you back into tents, As in the days of the appointed time.

10 And I have spoken to the prophets, and I have multiplied visions, and by means of the prophets have I used similitudes.

And I have spoken to the prophets, And I have multiplied vision, And by the hand of the prophets I use allegories.

11 If Gilead is iniquity, surely they are but vanity: they sacrifice bullocks in Gilgal; yea, their altars are as heaps in the furrows of the fields.

Surely Gilead [is] iniquity, They have been only vanity, In Gilead they have sacrificed bullocks, Also their altars [are] as heaps, on the furrows of a field.

12 And Jacob fled into the country of Syria, and Israel served for a wife, and for a wife he kept [sheep].

And Jacob flees to the country of Aram, And Israel serves for a wife, Indeed, he has kept watch for a wife.

13 And by a prophet Jehovah brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet was he preserved.

And by a prophet has YHWH brought up Israel out of Egypt, And by a prophet it has been watched.

14 Ephraim provoked [him] to anger most bitterly; and his Lord shall leave his blood upon him, and recompense unto him his reproach.

Ephraim has most bitterly provoked, And he leaves his blood on himself, And his Lord turns his reproach back to him!”