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 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.

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.

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

3 In the womb he took his brother by the heel, and in his manhood he contended with God.

He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and by his strength he had power 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—

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;

5 even the LORD, the God of Hosts. The LORD is his name of renown!

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

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

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

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

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

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 [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.

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

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

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.

[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.

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

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

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

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

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

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