< Hosea 12 >

1 Ephraim striveth after wind, and followeth after the east wind; all the day he multiplieth lies and desolation; and they make a covenant with Assyria, and oil is carried into Egypt.
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.
2 The LORD hath also a controversy with Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways, according to his doings will He recompense him.
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.
3 In the womb he took his brother by the heel, and by his strength he strove with a godlike being;
In the womb, he supplanted his brother; for in his good fortune, he had been guided by an angel.
4 So he strove with an angel, and prevailed; he wept, and made supplication unto him; at Beth-el he would find him, and there he would speak with us;
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.
5 But the LORD, the God of hosts, the LORD is His name.
And the Lord God of hosts, the Lord is his memorial.
6 Therefore turn thou to thy God; keep mercy and justice, and wait for thy God continually.
And so, you should convert to your God. Keep mercy and judgment, and have hope in your God always.
7 As for the trafficker, the balances of deceit are in his hand. He loveth to oppress.
Canaan, in his hand is a deceitful balance, he has chosen false accusations.
8 And Ephraim said: 'Surely I am become rich, I have found me wealth; in all my labours they shall find in me no iniquity that were sin.'
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.”
9 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 appointed season.
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.
10 I have also spoken unto the prophets, and I have multiplied visions; and by the ministry of the prophets have I used similitudes.
And I have spoken through the prophets, and I have multiplied visions, and I have used parables through the hands of the prophets.
11 If Gilead be given to iniquity becoming altogether vanity, in Gilgal they sacrifice unto bullocks; yea, their altars shall be as heaps in the furrows of the field.
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.
12 And Jacob fled into the field of Aram, and Israel served for a wife, and for a wife he kept sheep.
Jacob fled into the region of Syria, and Israel served like a wife, and was served by a wife.
13 And by a prophet the LORD brought Israel up out of Egypt, and by a prophet was he kept.
Yet by a prophet the Lord led Israel out of Egypt, and he was served by a prophet.
14 Ephraim hath provoked most bitterly; therefore shall his blood be cast upon him, and his reproach shall his Lord return unto him.
Ephraim has provoked me to wrath with his bitterness, and his blood will overcome him, and his Lord will requite him for his shamefulness.

< Hosea 12 >