12 [a] Ephraim surrounds me with lies,(A)
the house of Israel, with deceit.
Judah still wanders with God
and is faithful to the holy ones.[b][c]

God’s Case against Jacob’s Heirs

12 Ephraim chases[d] the wind(B)
and pursues the east wind.(C)
He continually multiplies lies and violence.
He makes a covenant with Assyria,(D)
and olive oil is carried to Egypt.(E)

The Lord also has a dispute with Judah.
He is about to punish Jacob according to his ways;(F)
He will repay him based on his actions.

Footnotes

  1. Hosea 11:12 Hs 12:1 in Hb
  2. Hosea 11:12 Or to the Holy One; Hb obscure
  3. Hosea 11:12 Possibly angels, or less likely, pagan gods or idols
  4. Hosea 12:1 Or feeds on, or tends

Charges against Israel and Judah

12 [a]Israel surrounds me with lies and deceit,
    but Judah still obeys God
    and is faithful to the Holy One.[b]

12 [c]The people of Israel[d] feed on the wind;
    they chase after the east wind all day long.
They pile up lies and violence;
    they are making an alliance with Assyria
    while sending olive oil to buy support from Egypt.

Now the Lord is bringing charges against Judah.
    He is about to punish Jacob[e] for all his deceitful ways,
    and pay him back for all he has done.

Footnotes

  1. 11:12a Verse 11:12 is numbered 12:1 in Hebrew text.
  2. 11:12b Or and Judah is unruly against God, the faithful Holy One. The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.
  3. 12:1a Verses 12:1-14 are numbered 12:2-15 in Hebrew text.
  4. 12:1b Hebrew Ephraim, referring to the northern kingdom of Israel; also in 12:8, 14.
  5. 12:2 Jacob sounds like the Hebrew word for “deceiver.”