Hosea 12

¹ Ephraim has surrounded me with lies, the house of Israel, with deceit; Judah is still rebellious against God, against the Holy One, who is faithful.

² Ephraim chases the wind, ever pursuing the gale. His lies and falsehoods are many: he comes to terms with Assyria, and carries oil to Egypt.

³ The LORD has a grievance against Israel: he shall punish Jacob for his conduct, for his deeds he shall repay him.

⁴ In the womb he supplanted his brother, and as a man he contended with God;

⁵ He contended with the angel and triumphed, entreating him with tears. At Bethel he met God and there he spoke with him:

⁶ The LORD, the God of hosts, the LORD is his name!

⁷ You shall return by the help of your God, if you remain loyal and do right and always hope in your God.

⁸ A merchant who holds a false balance, who loves to defraud!

⁹ Though Ephraim says, "How rich I have become; I have made a fortune!" All his gain shall not suffice him for the guilt of his sin.

¹⁰ I am the LORD, your God, since the land of Egypt; I will again have you live in tents, as in that appointed time.

¹¹ I granted many visions and spoke to the prophets, through whom I set forth examples.

¹² In Gilead is falsehood, they have come to nought, in Gilgal they sacrifice to bullocks; Their altars are like heaps of stones in the furrows of the field.

¹³ When Jacob fled to the land of Aram, he served for a wife; for a wife Israel tended sheep.

¹⁴ By a prophet the LORD brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet they were protected.

¹⁵ Ephraim has exasperated his lord; therefore he shall cast his blood-guilt upon him and repay him for his outrage.