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

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.

2And a controversy hath Jehovah with Judah, To lay a charge on Jacob according to his ways, According to his doings He returneth to 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 womb he took his brother by the heel, And by his strength he was a prince 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,

4Yea, he is a prince unto the Messenger, And he overcometh <FI>by<Fi> weeping, And he maketh supplication to Him, At Bethel He doth find him, And there He doth speak 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 Jehovah, God of the Hosts, Jehovah <FI>is<Fi> His memorial.

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.

6And thou, through thy God, dost turn, Kindness and judgment keep thou, And wait on 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.

7Canaan! in his hand <FI>are<Fi> balances of deceit! To oppress he hath loved.

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 saith: `Surely I have become rich, I have found wealth for myself, All my labours--they find not against me iniquity that <FI>is<Fi> 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.

9And I--Jehovah thy God from the land of Egypt, Again do I turn thee back into tents, As in the days of the appointed time.

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.

10And I have spoken unto the prophets, And I have multiplied vision, And by the hand of the prophets I use similes.

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.

11Surely Gilead <FI>is<Fi> iniquity, Only, vanity they have been, In Gilead bullocks they have sacrificed, Also their altars <FI>are<Fi> as heaps, on the furrows of a 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 doth flee to the country of Aram, And Israel doth serve for a wife, Yea, for a wife he hath kept watch.

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 hath Jehovah brought up Israel out of Egypt, And by a prophet it hath been watched.

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.

14Ephraim hath provoked most bitterly, And his blood on himself he leaveth, And his reproach turn back to him doth his Lord!

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.