Hosea 12

1 Ephraim feedeth on wind, and pursueth the east wind; the whole day he increaseth deceit and corruption; and a covenant do they make with Assyria, and oil is carried into Egypt.

Ephraim feeds on wind, and chases the east wind. He continually multiplies lies and desolation. They make a covenant with Assyria, and oil is carried into Egypt.

2 But with Judah also hath the Lord [to hold] a controversy; and to punish Jacob according to his ways, according to his doings will he recompense him.

The LORD also has a controversy with Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways and according to his deeds he will repay him.

3 In the womb he took his brother by the heel, and in his strength he strove with an angel.

In the womb he took his brother by the heel; and in his manhood he contended with God.

4 Yea, he strove with an angel, and prevailed; he wept, and made supplication unto him: in Beth-el he should find him, and there he will speak with us.

Indeed, he struggled with the angel, and prevailed; he wept, and made petition to him. He found him at Bethel, and there he spoke with him,

5 And the Lord God of hosts, the Eternal One is his memorial.

even the LORD, the God of hosts; The LORD is his name of renown.

6 Therefore do thou return to thy God: keep goodness and justice, and wait on thy God continually.

Therefore turn to your God. Keep kindness and justice, and wait continually for your God.

7 But like a merchant, who hath the balances of deceit in his hand, loving to overreach,

A merchant has dishonest scales in his hand. He loves to defraud.

8 Did Ephraim say, I am certainly become rich, I have acquired substance unto myself: it is all through my labors; they will find no iniquity in me, that could be sin.

Ephraim said, "Surely I have become rich, I have found myself wealth. In all my wealth they won't find in me any iniquity that is sin."

9 And I am the Lord thy God from the land of Egypt: I will yet make thee dwell in tents, as in the days of antiquity.

"But I the LORD your God brought you up from the land of Egypt. I will yet again make you dwell in tents, as in the days of the solemn feast.

10 And I have spoken through the prophets, and I myself have multiplied visions, and by the means of the prophets have I spoken in similitudes.

I have also spoken to the prophets, and I have multiplied visions; and by the ministry of the prophets I have used parables.

11 If in Gil'ad there was misfortune, [it is because] there was naught but idolatry; in Gilgal they sacrificed bullocks [to idols]: their altars also are as stone-heaps on the furrows of the fields.

If Gilead is wicked, surely they are worthless. In Gilgal they sacrifice bulls. Indeed, their altars are like heaps in the furrows of the field.

12 And Jacob fled into the fields of Syria, and Israel served for a wife, and for a wife he kept [the flocks].

Jacob fled into the country of Aram, and Israel served to get a wife, and for a wife he tended flocks and herds.

13 And by a prophet did the Lord bring Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet was he guarded.

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

14 [Yet] Ephraim provoked [him] to anger most bitterly: therefore will his Lord cast his blood-guiltiness upon him, and his reproach will he recompense unto him.

Ephraim has bitterly provoked anger. Therefore his blood will be left on him, and his Lord will repay his contempt.