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 is enjoying wind, And is pursuing an east wind, All the day he multiplies lying and spoiling, And they make a covenant with Asshur, And oil is carried 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.

And YHWH has a controversy with Judah, To lay a charge on Jacob according to his ways, He returns to him according to his doings.

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

In the womb he took his brother by the heel, And by his strength he was a prince 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;

Indeed, he is a prince to the Messenger, And he overcomes [by] weeping, And he makes supplication to Him, At Bethel He finds him, And there He speaks with us,

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

Even YHWH, God of the Hosts, YHWH [is] His memorial.

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

And you, through your God, turn, Keep kindness and judgment, And wait on your God continually.

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

Canaan! In his hand [are] balances of deceit! He has loved to oppress.

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 says, Surely I have become rich, I have found wealth for myself, All my labors—they do not find against me iniquity that [is] sin.

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.

And I—your God YHWH from the land of Egypt, Again I turn you back into tents, As in the days of the appointed time.

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

And I have spoken to the prophets, And I have multiplied vision, And by the hand of the prophets I use allegories.

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.

Surely Gilead [is] iniquity, They have been only vanity, In Gilead they have sacrificed bullocks, Also their altars [are] as heaps, on the furrows of a 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 flees to the country of Aram, And Israel serves for a wife, Indeed, he has kept watch for a wife.

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

And by a prophet has YHWH brought up Israel out of Egypt, And by a prophet it has been watched.

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 most bitterly provoked, And he leaves his blood on himself, And his Lord turns his reproach back to him!”