Hosea chapter 12
English Standard Version
1Ephraim feeds on the wind and pursues the east wind all day long; they multiply falsehood and violence; they make a covenant with Assyria, and oil is carried to Egypt. 2 The Lord has an indictment against Judah and will punish Jacob according to his ways; he will repay him according to his deeds. 3 In the womb he took his brother by the heel, and in his manhood he strove with God. 4He strove with the angel and prevailed; he wept and sought his favor. He met God at Bethel, and there God spoke with us — 5the Lord, the God of hosts, the Lord is his memorial name: 6"So you, by the help of your God, return, hold fast to love and justice, and wait continually for your God." 7A merchant, in whose hands are false balances, he loves to oppress. 8Ephraim has said, "Ah, but I am rich; I have found wealth for myself; in all my labors they cannot find in me iniquity or sin." 9 I am the Lord your God from the land of Egypt; I will again make you dwell in tents, as in the days of the appointed feast. 10 I spoke to the prophets; it was I who multiplied visions, and through the prophets gave parables. 11 If there is iniquity in Gilead, they shall surely come to nothing: in Gilgal they sacrifice bulls; their altars also are like stone heaps on the furrows of the field. 12 Jacob fled to the land of Aram; there Israel served for a wife, and for a wife he guarded sheep. 13By a prophet the Lord brought Israel up from Egypt, and by a prophet he was guarded. 14 Ephraim has given bitter provocation; so his Lord will leave his bloodguilt on him and will repay him for his disgraceful deeds.
New International Version
1 Ephraim feeds on the wind; he pursues the east wind all day and multiplies lies and violence. He makes a treaty with Assyria and sends olive oil to Egypt. 2The Lord has a charge to bring against Judah; he will punish Jacob according to his ways and repay him according to his deeds. 3In the womb he grasped his brother’s heel; as a man he struggled with God. 4He struggled with the angel and overcame him; he wept and begged for his favor. He found him at Bethel and talked with him there— 5the Lord God Almighty, the Lord is his name!
6But you must return to your God; maintain love and justice, and wait for your God always. 7The merchant uses dishonest scales and loves to defraud.
8Ephraim boasts, "I am very rich; I have become wealthy. With all my wealth they will not find in me any iniquity or sin." 9"I have been the Lord your God ever since you came out of Egypt; I will make you live in tents again, as in the days of your appointed festivals.
10I spoke to the prophets, gave them many visions and told parables through them." 11Is Gilead wicked? Its people are worthless! Do they sacrifice bulls in Gilgal? Their altars will be like piles of stones on a plowed field. 12Jacob fled to the country of Aram ; Israel served to get a wife, and to pay for her he tended sheep. 13The Lord used a prophet to bring Israel up from Egypt, by a prophet he cared for him. 14But Ephraim has aroused his bitter anger; his Lord will leave on him the guilt of his bloodshed and will repay him for his contempt.
New American Standard Bible
1 Ephraim feeds on wind, And pursues the east wind continually; He multiplies lies and violence. Moreover, he makes a covenant with Assyria, And oil is brought to Egypt. 2The Lord also has a case against Judah, And will punish Jacob according to his ways; He will repay him according to his deeds. 3In the womb he took his brother by the heel, And in his mature strength he contended with God. 4Yes, he wrestled with the angel and prevailed; He wept and implored His favor. He found Him at Bethel, And there He spoke with us, 5And the Lord, the God of armies, The Lord is His name. 6So as for you, return to your God, Maintain kindness and justice, And wait for your God continually. 7A merchant, in whose hands are fraudulent balances, Loves to exploit. 8And Ephraim said, 'I have certainly become rich, I have found wealth for myself; In all my labors they will find in me No wrongdoing, which would be sin.' 9But I have been the Lord your God since the land of Egypt; I will make you live in tents again, As in the days of the appointed festival. 10I have also spoken to the prophets, And I provided many visions, And through the prophets I spoke in parables. 11Is there injustice in Gilead? Certainly they are worthless. In Gilgal they sacrifice bulls, Yes, their altars are like stone heaps Beside the furrows of a field. 12Now Jacob fled to the land of Aram, And Israel worked for a wife, And for a wife he kept sheep. 13But by a prophet the Lord brought Israel up from Egypt, And by a prophet he was protected. 14Ephraim has provoked God to bitter anger; So his Lord will leave his guilt for bloodshed on him And bring his disgrace back to him.
Christian Standard Bible
1Ephraim chases the wind and pursues the east wind. He continually multiplies lies and violence. He makes a covenant with Assyria, and olive oil is carried to Egypt. 2The Lord also has a dispute with Judah. He is about to punish Jacob according to his conduct; he will repay him based on his actions. 3In the womb he grasped his brother’s heel, and as an adult he wrestled with God. 4Jacob struggled with the angel and prevailed; he wept and sought his favor. He found him at Bethel, and there he spoke with him. 5The Lord is the God of Armies; the Lord is his name.
6But you must return to your God. Maintain love and justice, and always put your hope in God. 7A merchant loves to extort with dishonest scales in his hands. 8But Ephraim thinks, "How rich I have become; I made it all myself. In all my earnings, no one can find any iniquity in me that I can be punished for!" 9I have been the Lord your God ever since the land of Egypt. I will make you live in tents again, as in the festival days. 10I will speak through the prophets and grant many visions; I will give parables through the prophets. 11Since Gilead is full of evil, they will certainly come to nothing. They sacrifice bulls in Gilgal; even their altars will be like piles of rocks on the furrows of a field. 12Jacob fled to the territory of Aram. Israel worked to earn a wife; he tended flocks for a wife.
New Living Translation
2Now the Lord is bringing charges against Judah. He is about to punish Jacob for all his deceitful ways, and pay him back for all he has done. 3Even in the womb, Jacob struggled with his brother; when he became a man, he even fought with God. 4Yes, he wrestled with the angel and won. He wept and pleaded for a blessing from him. There at Bethel he met God face to face, and God spoke to him — 5the Lord God of Heaven’s Armies, the Lord is his name! 6So now, come back to your God. Act with love and justice, and always depend on him.
7But no, the people are like crafty merchants selling from dishonest scales — they love to cheat. 8Israel boasts, 'I am rich! I’ve made a fortune all by myself! No one has caught me cheating! My record is spotless!'
9'But I am the Lord your God, who rescued you from slavery in Egypt. And I will make you live in tents again, as you do each year at the Festival of Shelters. 10I sent my prophets to warn you with many visions and parables.'
11But the people of Gilead are worthless because of their idol worship. And in Gilgal, too, they sacrifice bulls; their altars are lined up like the heaps of stone along the edges of a plowed field. 12Jacob fled to the land of Aram, and there he earned a wife by tending sheep. 13Then by a prophet the Lord brought Jacob’s descendants out of Egypt; and by that prophet they were protected. 14But the people of Israel have bitterly provoked the Lord, so their Lord will now sentence them to death in payment for their sins.
King James Version
2The Lord hath also a controversy with Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways; according to his doings will he recompense him. 3He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and by his strength he had power with God:
6Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep mercy and judgment, and wait on thy God continually. 7He is a merchant, the balances of deceit are in his hand: he loveth to oppress.
New King James Version
1“Ephraim feeds on the wind, And pursues the east wind; He daily increases lies and desolation. Also they make a covenant with the Assyrians, And oil is carried to Egypt. 2“The Lord also brings a charge against Judah, And will punish Jacob according to his ways; According to his deeds He will recompense him. 3He took his brother by the heel in the womb, And in his strength he struggled with God. 4Yes, he struggled with the Angel and prevailed; He wept, and sought favor from Him. He found Him in Bethel, And there He spoke to us— 5That is, the Lord God of hosts. The Lord is His memorable name. 6 So you, by the help of your God, return; Observe mercy and justice, And wait on your God continually. 7“A cunning Canaanite! Deceitful scales are in his hand; He loves to oppress. 8And Ephraim said, ‘Surely I have become rich, I have found wealth for myself; In all my labors They shall find in me no iniquity that is sin.’ 9“But I am the Lord your God, Ever since the land of Egypt; I will again make you dwell in tents, As in the days of the appointed feast. 10 I have also spoken by the prophets, And have multiplied visions; I have given symbols through the witness of the prophets.” 11Though Gilead has idols— Surely they are vanity— Though they sacrifice bulls in Gilgal, Indeed their altars shall be heaps in the furrows of the field. 12Jacob fled to the country of Syria; Israel served for a spouse, And for a wife he tended sheep. 13 By a prophet the Lord brought Israel out of Egypt, And by a prophet he was preserved. 14Ephraim provoked Him to anger most bitterly; Therefore his Lord will leave the guilt of his bloodshed upon him, And return his reproach upon him.
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