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

Jehovah 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 contended with God;

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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 is wicked, surely they are worthless. In Gilgal they sacrifice bulls. Indeed, their altars are like 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.

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

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

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

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

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