Hosea 12

1 Ephraim feedeth on wind, and followeth after the east wind; Every day he multiplieth falsehood and violence; They make a league with Assyria, And oil is carried into Egypt.

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.

2 Therefore Jehovah hath a controversy with Judah. And he will punish Jacob for his ways, And requite him according to his doings.

The LORD hath also a controversy with Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways, according to his doings will He recompense him.

3 In the womb he took his brother by the heel, And in his strength he contended with God;

In the womb he took his brother by the heel, and by his strength he strove with a godlike being;

4 Yea, he contended with the angel, and prevailed; He wept, and made supplication to him. At Bethel he found him, And there he spake with us.

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;

5 And Jehovah, the God of hosts, Jehovah is his name.

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

6 Therefore turn thou to thy God; Observe mercy and justice, And hope in thy God always!

Therefore turn thou to thy God; keep mercy and justice, and wait for thy God continually.

7 He is a Canaanite; in his hands are the balances of deceit; He loveth to oppress.

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

8 Yet Ephraim saith, Lo, I have become rich; I have found myself substance; In all my earnings can be found no transgression in which there is guilt.

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.'

9 Yet I, Jehovah, have been thy God from the land of Egypt; I will again cause thee to dwell in tents, as in the days of the solemn feast.

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.

10 I have also spoken to the prophets, And I have given many visions, And by the prophets I have used similitudes.

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

11 Behold, Gilead is full of iniquity; Surely they have become corrupt; In Gilgal they sacrifice oxen, And their altars are like the heaps in the furrows of the field.

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.

12 Jacob fled into the country of Syria, And Israel served for a wife, And for a wife he kept sheep.

And Jacob fled into the field of Aram, and Israel served for a wife, and for a wife he kept sheep.

13 By a prophet Jehovah brought up Israel out of Egypt, And by a prophet was he preserved.

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

14 Ephraim hath provoked his Lord most bitterly; Therefore will he leave his blood upon him, And recompense to him his reproach.

Ephraim hath provoked most bitterly; therefore shall his blood be cast upon him, and his reproach shall his Lord return unto him.