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Israel’s History

12 [a] Ephraim has surrounded me with lies,[b]
and the house of Israel with deceit;
and Judah is still wandering with God
    and is faithful to the Holy One.

12 Ephraim herds the wind[c]
    and is pursuing the east wind all day long;
he multiplies deception and violence
    and he[d] makes a treaty with Assyria,[e]
    and oil is brought to Egypt.
Yahweh has a quarrel[f] with Judah
    and will punish Jacob according to his ways
        and repay him according to his deeds.

Footnotes

  1. Hosea 11:12 Hosea 11:12–12:14 in the English Bible is 12:1–15 in the Hebrew Bible
  2. Hosea 11:12 Hebrew “lie”
  3. Hosea 12:1 Or “Ephraim befriends the wind”
  4. Hosea 12:1 Hebrew “they”
  5. Hosea 12:1 Literally “cuts a covenant with Assyria”
  6. Hosea 12:2 This word in Hebrew conveys a legal setting

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