Hosea 12

1. (11:12) “Efrayim surrounds me with lies 1 and the house of Isra’el with deceit. 1 Y’hudah still rules with God 1 and is faithful with holy ones.

2. (1) Efrayim is chasing the wind, 2 pursuing the wind from the east. 2 All day he piles up lies and desolation — 2 they make a covenant with Ashur, 2 while sending olive oil to Egypt.

3. (2) Adonai also has a grievance against Y’hudah; 3 he will punish Ya‘akov according to his ways 3 and pay him back for his misdeeds.

4. (3) In the womb he took his brother by the heel; 4 in the strength of his manhood he fought with God.

5. (4) Yes, he fought with an angel and won; 5 he wept and pleaded with him. 5 Then at Beit-El he found him, 5 and there he would [later] speak with us —

6. (5) Adonai Elohei-Tzva’ot; 6 Adonai is his name!

7. (6) So you, return to your God; 7 hold fast to grace and justice; 7 and always put your hope in your God.

8. (7) “A huckster keeps false scales, 8 and he loves to cheat.

9. (8) Efrayim says, ‘I have gotten so rich! 9 I have made me a fortune! 9 And in all my profits no one will find 9 anything wrong or sinful.’

10. (9) “But I am Adonai your God, 10 from the land of Egypt. 10 Again I will make you live in tents, 10 as in the days of the established festival.

11. (10) I have spoken to the prophets; 11 it was I who gave vision after vision; 11 through the prophets I gave examples 11 to show what it would all be like.

12. (11) Is Gil‘ad given to iniquity? 12 Yes, they have become worthless. 12 In Gilgal they sacrifice to bulls; 12 therefore their altars are like piles of stones 12 in a plowed field.”

13. (12) Ya‘akov fled to the land of Aram. 13 There Isra’el slaved to win a wife; 13 for a wife he tended sheep.

14. (13) By a prophet Adonai brought Isra’el up from Egypt, 14 and by a prophet he was protected.

15. (14) Efrayim has given bitter provocation, 15 so the penalty for his bloodshed will be thrown down on him, 15 and his Lord will repay him for his insult.