Hosea, 12

¹ “Eʹphra·im is feeding on wind. He chases after the east wind all day long. He multiplies lies and violence. They make a covenant with As·syrʹi·a and take oil to Egypt.

² Jehovah has a legal case against Judah; He will call for an accounting against Jacob according to his ways, And he will repay him according to his deeds.

³ In the womb he seized his brother by the heel, And with his vigor he contended with God.

⁴ He kept contending with an angel and prevailed. He wept and begged for his favor.” He found him at Bethʹel, and there He spoke with us,

⁵ Jehovah the God of armies, Jehovah is his memorial name.^*1

⁶ “So return to your God, Maintain loyal love and justice, And always hope in your God.

⁷ But in the hand of the tradesman^*1 are deceptive scales; He loves to defraud.

⁸ Eʹphra·im keeps saying, ‘Indeed, I have become rich; I have found wealth. And in all my toil, they will not find anything wrong or sinful.’

⁹ But I am Jehovah your God from^*1 the land of Egypt. I will again make you dwell in tents As in the days of an appointed time.^*2

¹⁰ I spoke to the prophets, I multiplied their visions, And I spoke parables through the prophets.

¹¹ With Gilʹe·ad there has been deception^*1 and untruth. In Gilʹgal they have sacrificed bulls, And their altars are like piles of stones in the furrows of the field.

¹² Jacob ran away to the territory^*1 of Aʹram;^*2 Israel served there for a wife, And for a wife he guarded sheep.

¹³ By a prophet Jehovah brought Israel up from Egypt, And by a prophet he was guarded.

¹⁴ Eʹphra·im has caused bitter offense; His bloodguilt remains on him; His Lord will repay him for his reproach.”