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。
他跟天使角力得胜,
向天使哭求福分。
他在伯特利遇见祂,
在那里与祂说话——
就是万军之上帝耶和华,
耶和华是祂的名。
所以,你们要归向你们的上帝,
持守仁爱和公义,常常等候祂。

以法莲是个不诚实的商人,
手里拿着骗人的秤,喜欢压榨人。
以法莲说:“我发财了,
我依靠自己致富。
没有人能从我的劳碌中找出过错和罪恶。”

耶和华说:
“从你们在埃及的时候,
我就是你们的上帝耶和华。
我要使你们再次住在帐篷里,
就像从前守节期时一样。
10 我曾对先知讲话,赐给他们许多异象,
借他们用比喻警告你们。”

11 基列人充满罪恶,终必灭亡。
他们在吉甲用公牛献祭,
他们的祭坛像田间犁沟里的石堆。
12 雅各曾逃往亚兰,
以色列在那里为娶妻而服侍人,

为得到妻子而替人牧羊。

13 耶和华借着先知带领以色列离开埃及,
也借着先知保护他。
14 但以法莲却极大地触怒耶和华,
所以他的主要让他血债血还,
以羞辱还羞辱。

12 Ephraim feedeth on wind, and followeth after the east wind: he continually multiplieth lies and desolation; and they make a covenant with Assyria, and oil is carried into Egypt. Jehovah hath also a controversy with Judah, and will [a]punish Jacob according to his ways; according to his doings will he recompense him. In the womb he took his brother by the heel; and in his [b]manhood he [c]had power with God: yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed; he wept, and made supplication unto him: he found him at Beth-el, and there he spake with us, [d]even Jehovah, the God of hosts; Jehovah is his memorial name. Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep kindness and justice, and wait for thy God continually.

[e]He is [f]a trafficker, the balances of deceit are in his hand: he loveth to [g]oppress. And Ephraim said, Surely I am become rich, I have found me wealth: in all my labors they shall find in me no iniquity that were sin. But I am Jehovah thy God from the land of Egypt; I will yet again make thee to dwell in tents, as in the days of the solemn feast. 10 I have also spoken unto the prophets, and I have multiplied visions; and [h]by the ministry of the prophets have I used similitudes. 11 Is Gilead iniquity? they are altogether false; in Gilgal they sacrifice bullocks; yea, their altars [i]are as heaps in the furrows of the field. 12 And Jacob fled into the field of Aram, and Israel served for a wife, and for a wife he kept sheep. 13 And by a prophet Jehovah brought Israel up out of Egypt, and by a prophet was he [j]preserved. 14 Ephraim hath provoked to anger most bitterly: therefore shall his blood be left upon him, and his reproach shall his Lord return unto him.

Footnotes

  1. Hosea 12:2 Hebrew visit upon.
  2. Hosea 12:3 Or, strength
  3. Hosea 12:3 Or, strove
  4. Hosea 12:5 Or, for Jehovah is the God of hosts
  5. Hosea 12:7 Or, As for Canaan, the etc.
  6. Hosea 12:7 Or, a Canaanite. Hebrew Canaan.
  7. Hosea 12:7 Or, defraud
  8. Hosea 12:10 Hebrew by the hand.
  9. Hosea 12:11 Or, shall be
  10. Hosea 12:13 Or, kept