Hosea 12

1Ephraim feedeth on wind, and followeth after the east wind: he continually multiplieth lies and desolation; and they make a covenant with Assyria, and oil is carried into Egypt.

1Ephraim's food is the wind, and he goes after the east wind: deceit and destruction are increasing day by day; they make an agreement with Assyria, and take oil into Egypt.

2Jehovah hath also a controversy with Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways; according to his doings will he recompense him.

2The Lord has a cause against Judah, and will give punishment to Jacob for his ways; he will give him the reward of his acts.

3In the womb he took his brother by the heel; and in his manhood he had power with God:

3In the body of his mother he took his brother by the foot, and in his strength he was fighting with God;

4yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed; he wept, and made supplication unto him: he found him at Beth-el, and there he spake with us,

4He had a fight with the angel and overcame him; he made request for grace to him with weeping; he came face to face with him in Beth-el and there his words came to him;

5even Jehovah, the God of hosts; Jehovah is his memorial name.

5Even the Lord, the God of armies; the Lord is his name.

6Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep kindness and justice, and wait for thy God continually.

6So then, come back to your God; keep mercy and right, and be waiting at all times on your God.

7He isa trafficker, the balances of deceit are in his hand: he loveth to oppress.

7As for Canaan, the scales of deceit are in his hands; he takes pleasure in twisted ways.

8And Ephraim said, Surely I am become rich, I have found me wealth: in all my labors they shall find in me no iniquity that were sin.

8And Ephraim said, Now I have got wealth and much property; in all my works no sin may be seen in me.

9But I am Jehovah thy God from the land of Egypt; I will yet again make thee to dwell in tents, as in the days of the solemn feast.

9But I am the Lord your God from the land of Egypt; I will give you tents for your living-places again as in the days of the holy meeting.

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

10My word came to the ears of the prophets and I gave them visions in great number, and by the mouths of the prophets I made use of comparisons.

11Is Gilead iniquity? they are altogether false; in Gilgal they sacrifice bullocks; yea, their altars are as heaps in the furrows of the field.

11In Gilead there is evil. They are quite without value; in Gilgal they make offerings of oxen; truly their altars are like masses of stones in the hollows of a ploughed field.

12And Jacob fled into the field of Aram, and Israel served for a wife, and for a wife he kept sheep.

12And Jacob went in flight into the field of Aram, and Israel became a servant for a wife, and for a wife he kept sheep.

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

13And by a prophet the Lord made Israel come up out of Egypt, and by a prophet he was kept safe.

14Ephraim hath provoked to anger most bitterly: therefore shall his blood be left upon him, and his reproach shall his Lord return unto him.

14I have been bitterly moved to wrath by Ephraim; so that his blood will be on him, and the Lord will make his shame come back on him.