Hosea 12

¹ Ephraim is grazing on wind and is pursuing the east wind. The entire day he is increasing lying and futility, and they are contracting a covenant with Assyria, and oil is being fetched to Egypt. ² Yet Yahweh has a contention with Judah, and is to check over Jacob according to his ways, and according to his actions he will recompense him. ³ In the belly he took his brother by the heel, yet in his virility he was upright with Elohim. ⁴ And he is controlling the Messenger, and is prevailing; he laments and is supplicating to Him. In Bethel He is finding him, and there He is speaking with him. ⁵ And Yahweh is Elohim of the hosts; Yahweh is His remembrance. ⁶ And you, to your Elohim shall you return; keep kindness and judgment, and stretch toward your Elohim continually. ⁷ Ephraim is a trafficker; in his hand are scales of deceit; he loves to extort. ⁸ And Ephraim is saying, Yea, I am rich; I find virility for myself; all is my labor. They will not find with me depravity which is sin. ⁹ Yet I, Yahweh, am your Elohim; I brought you up from the land of Egypt. Again I will cause you to dwell in tents, as in the days of appointment. ¹⁰ And I will speak by the prophets, and I will increase the vision, and by the hand of the prophets I will use likenesses. ¹¹ Should Gilead have lawlessness, yea, they shall become futility. In Gilgal they sacrifice bulls; moreover, their altars are as mounds on the furrows of a field. ¹² And Jacob is running away to the field of Syria, and Israel served is serving for a wife, and for a wife he keeps cattle. ¹³ Yet by a prophet Yahweh brings up Israel from Egypt, and by a prophet is he guarded. ¹⁴ Ephraim vexes Him most bitterly, and He shall leave his blood sheds on him, and his reproach his Lord will recompense to him.