Hosea 12

World English Bible

    and chases the east wind.
    He continually multiplies lies and desolation.
    They make a covenant with Assyria,
    and oil is carried into Egypt.
² Yahweh also has a controversy with Judah,
    and will punish Jacob according to his ways;
    according to his deeds he will repay him.
³ In the womb he took his brother by the heel;
    and in his manhood he contended with God.
⁴ Indeed, he struggled with the angel, and prevailed;
    he wept, and made supplication to him.
    He found him at Bethel, and there he spoke with us,
⁵     even Yahweh, the God of Armies;
    Yahweh is his name of renown!
⁶ Therefore turn to your God.
    Keep kindness and justice,
    and wait continually for your God.

⁷ A merchant has dishonest scales in his hand.
    He loves to defraud.
⁸ Ephraim said, “Surely I have become rich,
    I have found myself wealth.
    In all my wealth they won’t find in me any iniquity that is sin.”

⁹ “But I am Yahweh your God from the land of Egypt.
    I will yet again make you dwell in tents,
    as in the days of the solemn feast.
¹⁰ I have also spoken to the prophets,
    and I have multiplied visions;
    and by the ministry of the prophets I have used parables.
¹¹ If Gilead is wicked,
    surely they are worthless.
In Gilgal they sacrifice bulls.
    Indeed, their altars are like heaps in the furrows of the field.
¹² Jacob fled into the country of Aram,
    and Israel served to get a wife,
    and for a wife he tended flocks and herds.
¹³ By a prophet Yahweh brought Israel up out of Egypt,
    and by a prophet he was preserved.
¹⁴ Ephraim has bitterly provoked anger.
    Therefore his blood will be left on him,
    and his Lord^[a] will repay his contempt.