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.

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

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

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

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

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

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.”

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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