Hosea 12
Evangelical Heritage Version
12 Ephraim feeds on wind
and chases the east wind all day.
He multiplies lies and violence.
They make a treaty with Assyria,
and olive oil is carried to Egypt.
2 The Lord has a case against Judah.
He will deal with Jacob according to his ways.
According to his deeds he will repay him.
3 In the womb Jacob grasped his brother by the heel,
and when he was a grown man, he struggled with God.
4 He wrestled with the Angel and prevailed.
He wept and sought his favor.
He found him at Bethel, and there he spoke with him,[a]
5 namely, with the Lord, the God of Armies.
The Lord is the name by which he is to be remembered!
6 So return to your God.
Observe mercy and justice,
and wait for your God continually.
7 A merchant has fraudulent scales in his hand.
He loves to defraud others.
8 Ephraim said, “Surely I have become rich.
I have secured wealth for myself.
Among all my possessions no one will find anything that makes me guilty of sin.”
9 But I have been the Lord your God from the time you left the land of Egypt.
I will make you dwell in tents again,
as in the days of the appointed festival.[b]
10 I have spoken to the prophets.
I have given numerous visions.
I taught meaningful lessons through the prophets.
11 Since Gilead is wicked,
it is certain that they are worthless.
In Gilgal they sacrifice bulls.
Yes, their altars are like piles of stones in the furrows of a field.
12 Jacob fled to the territory of Aram.
Israel worked as a servant to get a wife,
and for a wife, he took care of sheep.
13 By a prophet, the Lord brought Israel out of Egypt,
and by a prophet he took care of Israel.
14 Ephraim has provoked bitter anger.
Therefore his Lord will leave him bloodied by his guilt
and bring his disgrace back on him.
Footnotes
- Hosea 12:4 Variant us
- Hosea 12:9 The Festival of Shelters in the autumn
Hosea 12
English Standard Version
12 Ephraim feeds on the wind
and pursues (A)the east wind all day long;
they multiply (B)falsehood and violence;
(C)they make a covenant with Assyria,
and (D)oil is carried to Egypt.
The Lord's Indictment of Israel and Judah
2 (E)The Lord has an indictment against Judah
and will punish Jacob according to his ways;
he will repay him according to his deeds.
3 (F)In the womb he took his brother by the heel,
and in his manhood he strove with God.
4 He strove with the angel and prevailed;
he wept and sought his favor.
(G)He met God[a] at Bethel,
and there God spoke with us—
5 the Lord, the God of hosts,
(H)the Lord is his memorial name:
6 “So you, (I)by the help of your God, return,
(J)hold fast to love and justice,
and wait continually for your God.”
7 A merchant, in whose hands are (K)false balances,
he loves (L)to oppress.
8 Ephraim has said, “Ah, but (M)I am rich;
I have found wealth for myself;
in all my labors (N)they cannot find in me iniquity or sin.”
9 (O)I am the Lord your God
from the land of Egypt;
I will again make you (P)dwell in tents,
as in the days of the appointed feast.
10 (Q)I spoke to the prophets;
it was I who multiplied (R)visions,
and through the prophets gave parables.
11 (S)If there is iniquity in Gilead,
they shall surely come to nothing:
(T)in Gilgal they sacrifice bulls;
(U)their altars also are like stone heaps
(V)on the furrows of the field.
12 (W)Jacob fled to the land of Aram;
there Israel (X)served for a wife,
and for a wife he guarded sheep.
13 By (Y)a prophet (Z)the Lord brought Israel up from Egypt,
and by a prophet he was guarded.
14 (AA)Ephraim has given bitter provocation;
so his Lord (AB)will leave his bloodguilt on him
(AC)and will repay him for his disgraceful deeds.
Footnotes
- Hosea 12:4 Hebrew him
The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version®, EHV®, © 2019 Wartburg Project, Inc. All rights reserved.
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
