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.

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

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

He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and in his labours he had power 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;

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

But the Lord God Almighty shall be his memorial.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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