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12 Ephraim feeds on wind,

    and chases the east wind.
    He continually multiplies lies and desolation.
    They make a covenant with Assyria,
    and oil is carried into Egypt.
Yahweh also has a controversy with Judah,
    and will punish Jacob according to his ways;
    according to his deeds he will repay him.
In the womb he took his brother by the heel;
    and in his manhood he contended with God.
Indeed, he struggled with the angel, and prevailed;
    he wept, and made supplication to him.
    He found him at Bethel, and there he spoke with us,
    even Yahweh, the God of Armies;
    Yahweh is his name of renown!
Therefore turn to your God.
    Keep kindness and justice,
    and wait continually for your God.

A merchant has dishonest scales in his hand.
    He loves to defraud.
Ephraim said, “Surely I have become rich,
    I have found myself wealth.
    In all my wealth they won’t find in me any iniquity that is sin.”

“But I am Yahweh your God from the land of Egypt.
    I will yet again make you dwell in tents,
    as in the days of the solemn feast.
10 I have also spoken to the prophets,
    and I have multiplied visions;
    and by the ministry of the prophets I have used parables.
11 If Gilead is wicked,
    surely they are worthless.
In Gilgal they sacrifice bulls.
    Indeed, their altars are like heaps in the furrows of the field.
12 Jacob fled into the country of Aram,
    and Israel served to get a wife,
    and for a wife he tended flocks and herds.
13 By a prophet Yahweh brought Israel up out of Egypt,
    and by a prophet he was preserved.
14 Ephraim has bitterly provoked anger.
    Therefore his blood will be left on him,
    and his Lord[a] will repay his contempt.

Footnotes

  1. 12:14 The word translated “Lord” is “Adonai.”

12 [a]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)
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)
In the womb he grasped his brother’s heel;(J)
    as a man he struggled(K) with God.
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—
the Lord God Almighty,
    the Lord is his name!(M)
But you must return(N) to your God;
    maintain love and justice,(O)
    and wait for your God always.(P)

The merchant uses dishonest scales(Q)
    and loves to defraud.
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.”

“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

  1. Hosea 12:1 In Hebrew texts 12:1-14 is numbered 12:2-15.
  2. Hosea 12:2 Jacob means he grasps the heel, a Hebrew idiom for he takes advantage of or he deceives.
  3. Hosea 12:12 That is, Northwest Mesopotamia