Hosea 12

1 Ephraim, feedeth on wind, and pursueth the east wind, all the day, falsehood and force, doth he magnify, —and, a covenant with Assyria, would they solemnize, and, oil into Egypt, must be borne along.

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 But, a controversy, hath Yahweh with Judah, —so that he may bring punishment on Jacob, according to his ways, According to his doings, repay 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 In the womb, took he his brother by the heel; and, in his manly vigour, strove he with God:

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

4 Yea he strove against a Messenger, and prevailed, he wept, and made supplication unto him, —At Bethel, he found him, and, there, he spake with us;

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

5 And, Yahweh, is God of host, —Yahweh, is his memorial.

But the Lord God Almighty shall be his memorial.

6 Thou, therefore, by thy God, shalt return, —lovingkindness and justice, do thou keep, so wait thou for thy God, continually.

Thou therefore shalt return to thy God: keep thou mercy and judgment, and draw nigh to thy God continually.

7 A trafficker! in his hand, are balances of deceit, to oppress, he loveth.

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

8 So then Ephraim said, Surely I have gotten me riches, I have found wealth for myself, —in all my toils, they cannot find in me perversity which is sin.

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

9 But, I, Yahweh, have been thy God, from the land of Egypt, —I will yet make thee dwell in tents, as in the days of appointed meeting.

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

10 And I will lay my word upon the prophets, yea, I myself, have magnified, vision, —and, by the hand of the prophets, will I use similitudes.

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

11 If, Gilead, is in sorrow, surely false, have they been, In Gilgal, have they sacrificed, bullocks, —their very altars, shall become as heaps upon the furrows of the field.

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 When Jacob fled to the country of Syria, then Israel served for a wife, and, for a wife, he watched over a flock.

And Jacob retreated into the plain of Syria, and Israel served for a wife, and waited for a wife.

13 And, by a prophet, Yahweh, brought up, Israel out of Egypt, —and, by a prophet, was he watched over.

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

14 Ephraim hath provoked, very bitterly, —his own blood, therefore, upon him, will he leave, and, his reproach, shall his Lord, bring back to him.

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