Hosea 12

1 Ephraim feeds on wind, and chases the east wind. He continually multiplies lies and desolation. They make a covenant with Assyria, 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 also has a controversy with Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways; according to his deeds he will repay 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 In the womb he took his brother by the heel, and in his manhood he contended with God.

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

4 Indeed, he struggled with the angel, and prevailed; he wept, and made supplication to him. He found him at Bethel, 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, the God of Armies. The LORD is his name of renown!

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

6 Therefore turn to your God. Keep kindness and justice, and wait continually for your God.

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

7 A merchant has dishonest scales in his hand. He loves to defraud.

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

8 Ephraim said, “Surely I have become rich. I have found myself wealth. In all my wealth they won’t find in me any iniquity that is 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 “But I am the LORD your God from the land of Egypt. I will yet again make you dwell in tents, 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 to the prophets, and I have multiplied visions; and by the ministry of the prophets I have used parables.

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

11 If Gilead is wicked, surely they are worthless. In Gilgal they sacrifice bulls. Indeed, their altars are like heaps in the furrows of the field.

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 Jacob fled into the country of Aram. Israel served to get a wife. For a wife he tended flocks and herds.

And Jacob flees to the country of Aram, And Israel serves for a wife, Indeed, he has kept watch for a wife.

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

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

14 Ephraim has bitterly provoked anger. Therefore his blood will be left on him, and his Lord will repay his contempt.

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