Hosea 12

1 Ephraim feedeth on wind, and followeth after the east wind: he daily multiplieth lies and desolation; and they do make a covenant with the Assyrians, and oil is carried into Egypt.

Ephraim chases the wind and pursues the east wind all day long; he multiplies lies and violence; he makes a covenant with Assyria and sends olive oil to Egypt.

2 The LORD hath also a controversy with Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways; according to his doings will he recompense him.

The LORD also brings a charge against Judah. He will punish Jacob according to his ways and repay him according to his deeds.

3 He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and by his strength he had power with God:

In the womb he grasped his brother’s heel, and in his vigor he wrestled with God.

4 Yes, he had power over the angel, and prevailed: he wept, and made supplication to him: he found him [in] Beth-el, and there he spoke with us;

Yes, he struggled with the angel and prevailed; he wept and sought His favor; he found Him at Bethel and spoke with Him there —

5 Even the LORD God of hosts; the LORD [is] his memorial.

the LORD is the God of Hosts— the LORD is His name of renown.

6 Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep mercy and judgment, and wait on thy God continually.

But you must return to your God, maintaining love and justice, and always waiting on your God.

7 [He is] a merchant, the balances of deceit [are] in his hand: he loveth to oppress.

A merchant loves to defraud with dishonest scales in his hands.

8 And Ephraim said, Yet I have become rich, I have found for myself substance: [in] all my labors they shall find no iniquity in me that [were] sin.

And Ephraim boasts: “How rich I have become! I have found wealth for myself. In all my labors, they can find in me no iniquity that is sinful.”

9 And I [that am] the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt will yet make thee to dwell in tabernacles, as in the days of the solemn feast.

But I am the LORD your God ever since the land of Egypt. I will again make you dwell in tents, as in the days of the appointed feast.

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

I spoke through the prophets and multiplied their visions; I gave parables through the prophets.

11 [Is there] iniquity [in] Gilead? surely they are vanity: they sacrifice bullocks in Gilgal; yes, their altars [are] as heaps in the furrows of the fields.

Is there iniquity in Gilead? They will surely come to nothing. Do they sacrifice bulls in Gilgal? Indeed, their altars will be heaps of stones in the furrows of the field.

12 And Jacob fled into the country of Syria, and Israel served for a wife, and for a wife he kept [sheep].

Jacob fled to the land of Aram and Israel worked for a wife— for a wife he tended sheep.

13 And by a prophet the LORD brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet was he preserved.

But by a prophet the LORD brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet he was preserved.

14 Ephraim provoked [him] to anger most bitterly: therefore will he leave his blood upon him, and his reproach will his Lord return to him.

Ephraim has provoked bitter anger, so his Lord will leave his bloodguilt upon him and repay him for his contempt.