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

(E)The Lord has an indictment against Judah
    and will punish Jacob according to his ways;
    he will repay him according to his deeds.
(F)In the womb he took his brother by the heel,
    and in his manhood he strove with God.
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—
the Lord, the God of hosts,
    (H)the Lord is his memorial name:
“So you, (I)by the help of your God, return,
    (J)hold fast to love and justice,
    and wait continually for your God.”

A merchant, in whose hands are (K)false balances,
    he loves (L)to oppress.
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.”
(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

  1. Hosea 12:4 Hebrew him

Ephraim Reminded

12 [a]Ephraim feeds on (A)wind,
And pursues the (B)east wind continually;
He multiplies lies and violence.
Moreover, [b]he makes a covenant with Assyria,
And oil is brought to Egypt.
The Lord also has a (C)case against Judah,
And will punish Jacob (D)according to his ways;
He will repay him according to his deeds.
In the womb he (E)took his brother by the heel,
And in his mature strength he (F)contended with God.
Yes, he wrestled with the angel and prevailed;
He wept and (G)implored His favor.
He found Him at (H)Bethel,
And there He spoke with us,
And the Lord, the God of armies,
The Lord is His [c](I)name.
So as for you, (J)return to your God,
(K)Maintain [d]kindness and justice,
And (L)wait for your God continually.
A [e]merchant, in whose hands are fraudulent (M)balances,
Loves to exploit.
And Ephraim said, “I have certainly become (N)rich,
I have found wealth for myself;
In all my labors they will find in me
(O)No wrongdoing, which would be sin.”
But I have been the Lord your God since the land of Egypt;
I will make you (P)live in tents again,
As in the days of the appointed festival.
10 I have also spoken to the (Q)prophets,
And I [f]provided many visions,
And through the prophets I spoke in (R)parables.
11 Is there injustice in Gilead?
Certainly they are worthless.
In Gilgal they sacrifice bulls,
Yes, (S)their altars are like stone heaps
Beside the furrows of a field.

12 Now (T)Jacob fled to the [g]land of Aram,
And (U)Israel worked for a wife,
And for a wife he kept sheep.
13 But by a (V)prophet the Lord brought Israel up from Egypt,
And by a prophet he was protected.
14 (W)Ephraim has provoked God to bitter anger;
So his Lord will leave his (X)guilt for bloodshed on him
And bring his (Y)disgrace back to him.

Footnotes

  1. Hosea 12:1 Ch 12:2 in Heb
  2. Hosea 12:1 Lit they make
  3. Hosea 12:5 Lit invocation
  4. Hosea 12:6 Or loyalty
  5. Hosea 12:7 Or Canaanite
  6. Hosea 12:10 Lit multiplied the vision
  7. Hosea 12:12 Lit field