Hosea 12

1 Ephraim feeds on wind, and follows after the east wind: he daily increases lies and desolation; and they do make a covenant with the Assyrians, and oil is carried into Egypt.

But Ephraim is an evil spirit, he has chased the east wind all the day: he has multiplied empty and vain things, and made a covenant with the Assyrians, and oil has gone in the way of traffic into Egypt.

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

And the Lord [has] a controversy with Juda, in order to punish Jacob: according to his ways and according to his practices will he recompense him.

3 He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and by his strength he had power with God:

He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and in his labors he had power with God.

4 Yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed: he wept, and made supplication unto him: he found him in Bethel, and there he spoke with us;

And he prevailed with the angel and was strong: they wept, and entreated me: they found me in the house of On, and there [a word] was spoken to them.

5 Even the LORD God of hosts; the LORD is his memorial.

But the Lord God Almighty shall be his memorial.

6 Therefore turn you to your God: keep mercy and judgment and wait on your God continually.

You therefore shall return to your God: keep you mercy and judgment, and draw near to your God continually.

7 He is a merchant, the balances of deceit are in his hand: he loves to oppress.

[As for] Chanaan, in his hand is a balance of unrighteousness: he has loved to tyrannize.

8 And Ephraim said, Yet 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 said, Nevertheless I am rich, I have found refreshment to myself. None of his labors shall be found [available] to him, by reason of the sins which he has committed.

9 And I that am the LORD your God from the land of Egypt will yet make you to dwell in tabernacles, as in the days of the solemn feast.

But I the Lord your God brought you up out of the land of Egypt: I will yet cause you to dwell in tabernacles, according to the days of the feast.

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

And I will speak to the prophets, and I have multiplied visions, and by the means of the prophets I was represented.

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

If Galaad exists not, then the chiefs in Galaad when they sacrificed were false, and their altars were as heaps on the ground of the 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 retreated into the plain of Syria, and Israel served for a wife, and waited for a wife.

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

And the Lord brought Israel out of the land of Egypt by a prophet, and by a prophet was he preserve.

14 Ephraim provoked him to anger most bitterly: therefore shall he leave his blood upon him, and his reproach shall his LORD return unto him.

Ephraim was angry and excited, therefore his blood shall be poured out upon him, and the Lord shall recompense to him his reproach.