Hosea 12

1 Ephraim tries to herd the wind, chasing after the east wind all day long. Their lies and violence keep on increasing. They make a treaty with Assyria, and send olive oil to Egypt.

Ephraim herds the wind and hunts the sirocco. All day long they heap up falsehood and fraud, make a treaty with Assyria, and sends tribute of olive oil to Egypt.

2 The Lord also has an accusation against Judah, and will punish Jacob for the way the people act; he will repay them for what they have done.

The Lord has a charge to bring against Israel, to punish Jacob for his acts, according to his deeds will he requite him,

3 Even in the womb he fought with his brother; when he became a man he fought with God.

In the womb he supplanted his brother, in manhood he wrestled with God,

4 He fought with the angel, and he won. He wept, and begged him for a blessing. Jacob found God at Bethel, and spoke with him there—

He wrestled with the angel and prevailed, he wept and sought his blessing. At Bethel the Lord found him, and there he spoke with us.

5 the Lord God Almighty, the Lord is his memorable name!

And the Lord is the God of hosts, the Lord is his name!

6 You must return to your God. Act lovingly and do what is right, and always wait for your God.

So now, by the help of your God, return. Keep true love and justice. Trust in your God without ceasing.

7 A merchant who holds in his hands dishonest scales loves to swindle.

A merchant uses false scales: They love to defraud.

8 Ephraim says, “I'm rich! I've made myself wealthy! I've made so much from my work, and nobody can prove me guilty of doing wrong.”

Ephraim says, ‘Yes, I have become rich, I have secured wealth for myself. But despite my gains no one will find a crime I can be convicted of!’

9 But I am the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt. I will make you live again in tents like you do at the time of that particular festival.

I am the Lord your God, ever since the land of Egypt. I will make you again dwell in tents, as in days of old.

10 I spoke through the prophets. I myself gave many visions and parables through the prophets.

I spoke continually by the prophets. It was I who multiplied visions, and spoke in parables through the prophets.

11 If Gilead is idolatrous, they will surely come to nothing. In Gilgal they sacrifice bulls. Even their altars are like heaps of rocks in the furrows of the field.

In Gilead is iniquity, they will come to nothing. In Gilgal they sacrifice bulls, so their altars will be as stone heaps, among the furrows of the field.

12 Jacob fled to the land of Aram; Israel worked there to gain a wife, earning a wife by looking after sheep.

And Jacob fled to the territory of Aram, and Israel worked to earn a wife: for a wife he herded sheep.

13 Through a prophet the Lord brought Israel up from Egypt, and by a prophet they were cared for.

The Lord brought Israel up from Egypt by a prophet, and by a prophet Israel was guarded.

14 Ephraim has really upset the Lord, and the Lord will let them have the consequences of their bloodshed and pay them back for their contempt.

Ephraim has given bitter provocation. His Lord will leave upon him his guilt of bloodshed, and for his contempt he will repay him.