Hosea 12

1 Ephraim [is] feeding wind and [is] pursuing an east wind all the day falsehood and violence he increases and a covenant with Assyria they are making and oil to Egypt it is carried.

Ephraim herds the wind and hunts the sirocco. All day long they heap up falsehood and fraud, make a treaty with Assyria, and sends tribute of olive oil to Egypt.

2 And a case at law [belongs] to Yahweh with Judah and to visit [judgment] on Jacob according to ways his according to deeds his he will repay to him.

The Lord has a charge to bring against Israel, to punish Jacob for his acts, according to his deeds will he requite him,

3 In the womb he took by [the] heel brother his and in manly vigor his he struggled with God.

In the womb he supplanted his brother, in manhood he wrestled with God,

4 And he struggled against an angel and he prevailed he wept and he sought favor to him Beth-el he found him and there he spoke with us.

He wrestled with the angel and prevailed, he wept and sought his blessing. At Bethel the Lord found him, and there he spoke with us.

5 And Yahweh [the] God of hosts Yahweh [is] memorial his.

And the Lord is the God of hosts, the Lord is his name!

6 And you in God your you will return loyalty and justice keep and wait to God your continually.

So now, by the help of your God, return. Keep true love and justice. Trust in your God without ceasing.

7 Canaan [who are] in hand his scales of deceit to defraud he loves.

A merchant uses false scales: They love to defraud.

8 And he has said Ephraim surely I have become rich I have found wealth for myself all toil my not people will find to me iniquity which [is] sin.

Ephraim says, “Yes, I have become rich, I have secured wealth for myself. But despite my gains no one will find a crime I can be convicted of!”

9 And I [have been] Yahweh God your from [the] land of Egypt again I will cause to dwell you in tents like [the] days of an appointed feast.

I am the Lord your God, ever since the land of Egypt. I will make you again dwell in tents, as in days of old.

10 And I spoke to the prophets and I vision[s] I multiplied and by [the] hand of the prophets I gave parables.

I spoke continually by the prophets. It was I who multiplied visions, and spoke in parables through the prophets.

11 [is] Gilead Wickedness surely worthlessness they are in Gilgal bulls they have sacrificed also altars their [are] like heaps of stones on [the] furrows of a field.

In Gilead is iniquity, they will come to nothing. In Gilgal they sacrifice bulls, so their altars will be as stone heaps, among the furrows of the field.

12 And he fled Jacob [the] region of Aram and he served Israel for a wife and for a wife he kept [flocks].

And Jacob fled to the territory of Aram, and Israel worked to earn a wife: for a wife he herded sheep.

13 And by a prophet he brought up Yahweh Israel from Egypt and by a prophet he was kept.

The Lord brought Israel up from Egypt by a prophet, and by a prophet Israel was guarded.

14 He has provoked to anger Ephraim bitterness and blood his on him he will leave and reproach his he will repay to him lord his.

Ephraim has given bitter provocation. His Lord will leave upon him his guilt of bloodshed, and for his contempt he will repay him.