Add parallel Print Page Options

The merchants use dishonest scales;
    they like to ·cheat people [oppress].
·Israel [L Ephraim; 4:17] said, “I am rich! I ·am someone with power [have made my fortune]!”
    ·All their money will do them no good
because of the sins they have done [or “With all the wealth I’ve gained, no one can accuse me of sin”; C either self-vindication (continuing the quotation), or the prophet’s pronouncement of guilt].

“But I am the Lord your God,
    ·who brought you [or ever since you came] out of Egypt.
I will make you live in tents again
    as you used to do on ·worship days [the appointed festivals; C the feast of tabernacles, which commemorated the wilderness wanderings].
10 I spoke to the prophets
    and gave them many visions;
through them, I ·taught my lessons [spoke in parables; or spoke oracles of doom] to you.”

11 ·The people of Gilead are evil [or Is Gilead wicked? or In Gilead there was idolatry],
    they ·are worth nothing [are worthless; or will come to nothing].
·People [or Do they…?] sacrifice bulls at Gilgal [4:15].
    But their altars will become like piles of stone
    in a plowed field.

Read full chapter

A [a]merchant, in whose hands are fraudulent (A)balances,
Loves to exploit.
And Ephraim said, “I have certainly become (B)rich,
I have found wealth for myself;
In all my labors they will find in me
(C)No wrongdoing, which would be sin.”
But I have been the Lord your God since the land of Egypt;
I will make you (D)live in tents again,
As in the days of the appointed festival.
10 I have also spoken to the (E)prophets,
And I [b]provided many visions,
And through the prophets I spoke in (F)parables.
11 Is there injustice in Gilead?
Certainly they are worthless.
In Gilgal they sacrifice bulls,
Yes, (G)their altars are like stone heaps
Beside the furrows of a field.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Hosea 12:7 Or Canaanite
  2. Hosea 12:10 Lit multiplied the vision