Hosea 12

1 Ephraim feedeth on wind, and followeth after the east wind: he daily increaseth lies and desolation; and they do make a covenant with the Assyrians, 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 He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and by his strength he had power with God:

In the womb, he supplanted his brother; for in his good fortune, he had been guided by an angel.

4 Yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed: he wept, and made supplication unto him: he found him [in] Beth-el, and there he spake 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 Even the LORD God of hosts; the LORD [is] his memorial.

And the Lord God of hosts, the Lord is his memorial.

6 Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep mercy and judgment, and wait on thy God continually.

And so, you should convert to your God. Keep mercy and judgment, and have hope in your God always.

7 [He is] a merchant, 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, 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 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 And I [that am] the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt will yet make thee to dwell in tabernacles, as in the days of the solemn feast.

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

And I have spoken through the prophets, and I have multiplied visions, and I have used parables through the hands of the prophets.

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 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 country of Syria, 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 out of Egypt, and by a prophet was he preserved.

Yet by a prophet the Lord led Israel out of Egypt, and he was served by a prophet.

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 has provoked me to wrath with his bitterness, and his blood will overcome him, and his Lord will requite him for his shamefulness.