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

12 (12:2) Ephrayim feedeth on wind, and chasing after the east wind; he daily increaseth kazav (lies) and sod (desolation); and cuts brit with the Assyrians, and shemen is sent to Mitzrayim.

(3) Hashem hath also a charge against Yehudah, and will visit punishment on Ya’akov according to his ways; according to his doings will He repay him.

(4) In the beten (womb) he (Ya’akov) akav (took at the heel [of]) his brother and by his strength he sarah (struggled with, persevered) with Elohim;

(5) Yea, he (Yisroel) sarah (had power over) the malach, and prevailed; he wept, and made techinnah unto Him; He found him at Beit-El, and there He spoke with us;

(6) Even Hashem Elohei Tzva’os; Hashem is His [memorial] Name!

(7) Therefore turn thou to Eloheicha; be shomer over chesed and mishpat and wait on Eloheicha tamid (continually).

(8) A Kena’an (merchant), in whose hand are the scales of mirmar (deceit) He loveth to oppress.

(9) And Ephrayim boasts, Yet I am become an oisher, I have found me out wealth; in all my gain they shall find none avon (iniquity, offense) in me that would be chet (sin).

(10) And I that am Hashem Eloheicha from Eretz Mitzrayim will yet make thee to dwell in oholim, as in the yamei mo’ed [i.e., Sukkot].

10 (11) I have also spoken to the nevi’im, and I have multiplied chazon (vision, revelation, prophecy), and spoken parables by the nevi’im.

11 (12) Is there aven (iniquity) in Gil‘ad? Surely they are vanity; they sacrifice bullocks in Gilgal; yea, their mizbechot are as piles of stones in the furrows of the fields.

12 (13) And Ya’akov fled into the country of Aram, and Yisroel served for an isha, and for an isha he was shomer [over sheep].

13 (14) And by a navi Hashem brought Yisroel out of Mitzrayim, and shomer [Yisroel] a navi was.

14 (15) Ephrayim has provoked bitter anger; therefore shall He leave his blood-guiltiness upon him, and his scorn shall Adonoi of him return and repay unto him.