Hosea 12

1Ephraim feedeth on the wind, and followeth the burning heat: all the day long he multiplied lies and desolation: and he hath made a covenant with the Assyrians, and carried oil 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.

2Therefore there is a judgment of the Lord with Juda, and a visitation for Jacob: he will render to him according to his ways, and according to his devices.

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.

3In the womb he supplanted his brother: and by his strength he had success with an angel.

3In the womb he took his brother by the heel, And by his strength he was a prince with God,

4And he prevailed over the angel, and was strengthened: he wept, and made supplication to him: he found him in Bethel, and there he spoke 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,

5Even the Lord God of hosts, the Lord is his memorial.

5Even Jehovah, God of the Hosts, Jehovah <FI>is<Fi> His memorial.

6Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep mercy and judgment, and hope in thy God always.

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

7He is like Chanaan, there is a deceitful balance in his hand, he hath loved oppression.

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

8And Ephraim said: But yet I am become rich, I have found me an idol: all my labours shall not find me the iniquity that I have committed.

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.'

9And I that am the Lord thy God from the land of Egypt, will yet cause thee to dwell in tabernacles, as in the days of the 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.

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

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

11If Galaad be an idol, then in vain were they in Galgal offering sacrifices with bullocks: for their altars also 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.

12Jacob fled into the country of Syria, and Israel served for a wife, and was a keeper for a wife.

12And Jacob doth flee to the country of Aram, And Israel doth serve for a wife, Yea, for a wife he hath kept watch.

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

13And by a prophet hath Jehovah brought up Israel out of Egypt, And by a prophet it hath been watched.

14Ephraim hath provoked me to wrath with his bitterness, and his blood shall come upon him, and his Lord will render his reproach unto him.

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