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Hosea 12
1599 Geneva Bible
Hosea 12
1599 Geneva Bible
12 He admonisheth by Jacob’s example to trust in God, and not in riches.
1 Ephraim is fed [a]with the wind, and followeth after the East wind: he increaseth daily lies and destruction, and they do make a covenant with Assyria, and [b]oil is carried into Egypt.
2 The Lord hath also a controversy with [c]Judah, and will visit Jacob, according to his ways: according to his works, will he recompense him.
3 He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and by his strength he had [d]power with God,
4 And had [e]power over the Angel, and prevailed: he wept and prayed unto him: [f]he found him in Bethel, and there he spake with us.
5 Yea, the Lord God of hosts, the Lord is himself his memorial.
6 Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep mercy and judgment, and hope still in thy God.
7 He is [g]Canaan: the balances of decree are in his hand: he loveth to oppress.
8 And Ephraim said, Notwithstanding I am rich, I have found me out riches in all my labors: they shall find none iniquity in me, [h]that were wickedness.
9 Though I am the Lord thy God, from the land of Egypt, yet will I make thee to dwell in the tabernacles, as in [i]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 [j]iniquity in Gilead? surely they are vanity: they sacrifice bullocks in Gilgal, and their altars are as heaps in the furrows of the field.
12 [k]And Jacob fled into the country of Aram, and Israel served for a wife, and for a wife he kept sheep,
13 And by a [l]Prophet the Lord brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a Prophet was he reserved.
14 But Ephraim provoked him with high places: therefore shall his blood be poured upon him, and his reproach shall his Lord reward him.
Footnotes
- Hosea 12:1 That is, flattereth himself with vain confidence.
- Hosea 12:1 Meaning, presents to get friendship.
- Hosea 12:2 Which in those points was like to Ephraim, but not in idolatries.
- Hosea 12:3 Seeing that God did thus prefer Jacob their father, Judah’s ingratitude was the more to be abhorred.
- Hosea 12:4 Read Gen. 32:24-32.
- Hosea 12:4 God found Jacob as he lay sleeping in Bethel, Gen. 28:12, and so spake with him there, that the fruit of that speech appertained to the whole body of the people, whereof we are.
- Hosea 12:7 As for Ephraim he is more like the wicked Canaanites, than godly Abraham or Jacob.
- Hosea 12:8 Thus the wicked measure God’s favor by outward prosperity and like hypocrites cannot abide that any should reprove their doings.
- Hosea 12:9 Seeing thou wilt not acknowledge my benefits, I will bring thee again to dwell in tents, as in the feast of the Tabernacles, which thou dost now contemn.
- Hosea 12:11 The people thought that no man durst have spoken against Gilead, that holy place, and yet the Prophet saith, that all their religion was but vanity.
- Hosea 12:12 If you boast of your riches and nobility, ye seem to reproach your father, who was a poor fugitive and servant.
- Hosea 12:13 Meaning, Moses, whereby appeareth, that whatsoever they have, it cometh of God’s free goodness.
Hosea 12
New International Version
Hosea 12
New International Version
12 [a]1 Ephraim(A) feeds on the wind;(B)
he pursues the east wind all day
and multiplies lies and violence.(C)
He makes a treaty with Assyria(D)
and sends olive oil to Egypt.(E)
2 The Lord has a charge(F) to bring against Judah;(G)
he will punish(H) Jacob[b] according to his ways
and repay him according to his deeds.(I)
3 In the womb he grasped his brother’s heel;(J)
as a man he struggled(K) with God.
4 He struggled with the angel and overcame him;
he wept and begged for his favor.
He found him at Bethel(L)
and talked with him there—
5 the Lord God Almighty,
the Lord is his name!(M)
6 But you must return(N) to your God;
maintain love and justice,(O)
and wait for your God always.(P)
7 The merchant uses dishonest scales(Q)
and loves to defraud.
8 Ephraim boasts,(R)
“I am very rich; I have become wealthy.(S)
With all my wealth they will not find in me
any iniquity or sin.”
9 “I have been the Lord your God
ever since you came out of Egypt;(T)
I will make you live in tents(U) again,
as in the days of your appointed festivals.
10 I spoke to the prophets,
gave them many visions
and told parables(V) through them.”(W)
11 Is Gilead wicked?(X)
Its people are worthless!
Do they sacrifice bulls in Gilgal?(Y)
Their altars will be like piles of stones
on a plowed field.(Z)
12 Jacob fled to the country of Aram[c];(AA)
Israel served to get a wife,
and to pay for her he tended sheep.(AB)
13 The Lord used a prophet to bring Israel up from Egypt,(AC)
by a prophet he cared for him.(AD)
14 But Ephraim has aroused his bitter anger;
his Lord will leave on him the guilt of his bloodshed(AE)
and will repay him for his contempt.(AF)
Footnotes
- Hosea 12:1 In Hebrew texts 12:1-14 is numbered 12:2-15.
- Hosea 12:2 Jacob means he grasps the heel, a Hebrew idiom for he takes advantage of or he deceives.
- Hosea 12:12 That is, Northwest Mesopotamia
1599 Geneva Bible (GNV) 
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New International Version (NIV) 
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