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 feedeth on the wind, and followeth the burning heat: all the day long he multiplied lies and desolation: and he hath made a covenant with the Assyrians, and 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 there is a judgment of the Lord with Juda, and a visitation for Jacob: he will render to him according to his ways, and according to his devices.

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: and by his strength he had success with 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 the angel, and was strengthened: he wept, and made supplication to him: he found him in Bethel, and there he spoke with us.

5 But the LORD, the God of hosts, the LORD is His name.

Even the Lord the 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.

Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep mercy and judgment, and hope in thy God always.

7 As for the trafficker, the balances of deceit are in his hand. He loveth to oppress.

He is like Chanaan, there is a deceitful balance in his hand, he hath loved oppression.

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 said: But yet I am become rich, I have found me an idol: all my labours shall not find 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 that am the Lord thy God from the land of Egypt, will yet cause thee to dwell in tabernacles, as in 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 by the prophets, and I have multiplied visions, and I have used similitudes by the ministry 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 Galaad be an idol, then in vain were they in Galgal offering sacrifices with bullocks: for their altars also are as heaps in the furrows 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 country of Syria, and Israel served for a wife, and was a keeper for a wife.

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

But the Lord by a prophet brought Israel out of Egypt: and he was preserved 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 hath provoked me to wrath with his bitterness, and his blood shall come upon him, and his Lord will render his reproach unto him.