12 “以法莲以风为食,
整天追逐东风,
虚谎和暴力日益增多;
他跟亚述结盟,
向埃及进贡橄榄油。”

耶和华指控犹大;
要按雅各所行的惩罚他,
照雅各所做的报应他。
雅各在母胎之中曾抓住哥哥的脚跟,
壮年之时曾跟上帝角力。

Read full chapter

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.

Read full chapter

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.