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.

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

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

He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and in his labors he had power 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.

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

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

But the Lord God Almighty shall be his memorial.

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

You therefore shall return to your God: keep you mercy and judgment, and draw near to your God continually.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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