Hosea 12
1Ephraim feeds on the wind 1 and follows after the east wind. 1 He continually multiplies lies and violence. 1 They make a covenant with Assyria 1 and carry olive oil to Egypt. 1
2Yahweh also has a lawsuit against Judah 1 and will punish Jacob for what he has done; 1 he will repay him for his deeds. 1
3In the womb Jacob grasped his brother by the heel, 1 and in his manhood he struggled with God. 1
4He struggled with the angel and won. 1 He wept and begged for his favor. 1 He met God at Bethel; 1 there God spoke with him. 1
5This is Yahweh, the God of hosts; 1 “Yahweh” is his name to be called on. 1
6So turn to your God. 1 Keep covenantal faithfulness and justice, 1 and wait continually for your God. 1
7The merchants have false scales in their hands; 1 they love to defraud. 1
8Ephraim said, “I have certainly become very rich; 1 I have found wealth for myself. 1 In all my work they will not find any iniquity in me, 1 anything that would be sin.” 1
9“I am Yahweh your God from the land of Egypt. 1 I will again make you live in tents, 1 as in the days of the appointed festival. 1
10I spoke to the prophets, 1 and I gave them many visions for you. 1 By the hand of the prophets I gave parables.” 1
11If there is wickedness in Gilead, 1 surely the people are worthless. 1 In Gilgal they sacrifice bulls; 1 their altars will be like heaps of stone in the furrows of the fields. 1
12Jacob fled to the land of Aram; 1 Israel worked in order to get a wife; 1 and he kept flocks of sheep to get a wife. 1
13Yahweh brought Israel out of Egypt by a prophet, 1 and by a prophet he took care of them. 1
14Ephraim has bitterly angered Yahweh. 1 So his Lord will leave his blood on him 1 and will turn back on him his disgrace.