Ephraim’s Sins Rebuked by God

12 “Ephraim (A)feeds on the wind,
And pursues the east wind;
He daily increases lies and [a]desolation.
(B)Also they make a [b]covenant with the Assyrians,
And (C)oil is carried to Egypt.

“The(D) Lord also brings a [c]charge against Judah,
And will punish Jacob according to his ways;
According to his deeds He will recompense him.
He took his brother (E)by the heel in the womb,
And in his strength he (F)struggled with God.
Yes, he struggled with the Angel and prevailed;
He wept, and sought favor from Him.
He found Him in (G)Bethel,
And there He spoke to us—
That is, the Lord God of hosts.
The Lord is His (H)memorable name.
(I)So you, by the help of your God, return;
Observe mercy and justice,
And wait on your God continually.

“A cunning [d]Canaanite!
(J)Deceitful scales are in his hand;
He loves to oppress.
And Ephraim said,
(K)‘Surely I have become rich,
I have found wealth for myself;
In all my labors
They shall find in me no iniquity that is sin.’

“But I am the Lord your God,
Ever since the land of Egypt;
(L)I will again make you dwell in tents,
As in the days of the appointed feast.
10 (M)I have also spoken by the prophets,
And have multiplied visions;
I have given [e]symbols [f]through the witness of the prophets.”

11 Though (N)Gilead has idols—
Surely they are [g]vanity—
Though they sacrifice bulls in (O)Gilgal,
Indeed their altars shall be heaps in the furrows of the field.

12 Jacob (P)fled to the country of Syria;
(Q)Israel served for a spouse,
And for a wife he tended sheep.
13 (R)By a prophet the Lord brought Israel out of Egypt,
And by a prophet he was preserved.
14 Ephraim (S)provoked Him to anger most bitterly;
Therefore his Lord will leave the guilt of his bloodshed upon him,
(T)And return his reproach upon him.

Footnotes

  1. Hosea 12:1 ruin
  2. Hosea 12:1 Or treaty
  3. Hosea 12:2 A legal complaint
  4. Hosea 12:7 Or merchant
  5. Hosea 12:10 Or parables
  6. Hosea 12:10 Lit. by the hand
  7. Hosea 12:11 worthless

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