Hosea 12

1 Ephraim feeds on the wind and follows after the east wind. He continually multiplies lies and violence. They make a covenant with Assyria and carry olive oil to Egypt.

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

2 Yahweh also has a lawsuit against Judah and will punish Jacob for what he has done; he will repay him for his deeds.

Jehovah has also a controversy with Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways. He will recompense him according to his doings.

3 In the womb Jacob grasped his brother by the heel, and in his manhood he struggled with God.

In the womb he took his brother by the heel, and in his manhood he had strength with God.

4 He struggled with the angel and won. He wept and begged for his favor. He met God at Bethel; there God spoke with him.

Yea, he had strength over the agent, and prevailed, as he wept, and made supplication to him. He found him at Bethel, and there he spoke with us.

5 This is Yahweh, the God of hosts; “Yahweh” is his name to be called on.

Even Jehovah, the God of hosts, Jehovah is his memorial.

6 So turn to your God. Keep covenantal faithfulness and justice, and wait continually for your God.

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

7 The merchants have false scales in their hands; they love to defraud.

He is a Canaanite. The balances of deceit are in his hand. He loves to oppress.

8 Ephraim said, “I have certainly become very rich; I have found wealth for myself. In all my work they will not find any iniquity in me, anything that would be sin.”

And Ephraim said, Surely I have become rich. I have found wealth for myself. In all my labors they shall find no iniquity in me that is sin.

9 “I am Yahweh your God from the land of Egypt. I will again make you live in tents, as in the days of the appointed festival.

But I am Jehovah thy God from the land of Egypt. I will yet again make thee to dwell in tents, as in the days of the solemn feast.

10 I spoke to the prophets, and I gave them many visions for you. By the hand of the prophets I gave parables.”

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

11 If there is wickedness in Gilead, surely the people are worthless. In Gilgal they sacrifice bulls; their altars will be like heaps of stone in the furrows of the fields.

Is Gilead iniquity? They are altogether false. In Gilgal they sacrifice bullocks. Yea, their altars are as heaps in the furrows of the field.

12 Jacob fled to the land of Aram; Israel worked in order to get a wife; and he kept flocks of sheep to get a wife.

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

13 Yahweh brought Israel out of Egypt by a prophet, and by a prophet he took care of them.

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

14 Ephraim has bitterly angered Yahweh. So his Lord will leave his blood on him and will turn back on him his disgrace.

Ephraim has provoked to anger most bitterly. Therefore his blood shall be left upon him, and his reproach his Lord shall return to him.