Hosea 12

1 Ephraim feeds on 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 has a charge to bring against Judah. He will punish Jacob according to his ways and repay him according to his deeds.

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

4 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 the LORD God of Hosts, the LORD is His name of renown.

6 But you must return to your God; maintain love and justice, and always wait on your God.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

4 Yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed: he wept, and made supplication unto him: he found him [in] Bethel, and there he spake with us;

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

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

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

8 And Ephraim said, Yet I am become rich, I have found me out substance: [in] all my labours they shall find none iniquity in me that [were] 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.

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

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

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

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

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

1 There is falsehood against me in Ephraim, and false worship in the house of Israel. But Judah still holds fast to God and to the right holy service.

2 And Ephraim feedeth on the wind, and runneth after the east wind, and maketh more idolatry and mischief every day: they make a covenant with Assyria, and bring balm into Egypt.

3 Therefore the LORD will plead the cause of Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his character, and will recompense him according to his merit.

4 Yea, they say, he hath trodden under his brother in his mother's womb, and hath fought with God with all his might.

5 And he fought with the angel, and prevailed; for he wept, and besought him: for there he found him at Bethel, and there he spake unto us.

6 But the LORD is the God of hosts: the LORD is his name.

7 Turn therefore unto thy God, keep mercy and justice, and hope always in thy God.

8 But the merchant hath a false scale in his hand, and loveth to deceive.

9 For Ephraim saith, I am rich, I have enough; there shall no iniquity be found me in all my work that is sin.

10 But I, the LORD, am thy God out of the land of Egypt, and I that let thee dwell in the tabernacles, as they do in the seasons of the year,

11 And speak unto the prophets: and I am he that giveth much prophecy, and sheweth me by the prophets.

12 In Gilead is idolatry, and in Gilgal they sacrifice oxen in vain; and they have as many altars as there are almonds in the field.

13 And Jacob fled into the land of Syria: and Israel had to serve for a wife, for a wife he had to shew.

14 And afterward the LORD brought Israel out of Egypt by a prophet, and shepherded him by a prophet.

15 And now Ephraim hath provoked him to anger by their idols: therefore their blood shall come upon them, and the LORD shall recompense their reproach.