Hosea 12

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Ephraim besieges me with lying, the House of Israel with duplicity. (But Judah stil is on God's side, heis faithful to the Holy One.)	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 feeds himself on wind, all day he chases the wind from the East, he heaps up cheating andviolence; they make a treaty with Assyria, at the same time sending oil to Egypt.	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 Yahweh has a case against Judah, he will punish Jacob as his conduct merits, he will repay him as hisdeeds deserve.	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 very womb he overreached his brother, in maturity he wrestled against God.	4 In the womb he supplanted his brother, and as a man he contended with God;
5 He wrestled with the angel and beat him, he wept and pleaded with him. He met him at Bethel andthere God spoke to us-	5 He contended with the angel and triumphed, entreating him with tears. At Bethel he met God and there he spoke with him:
6 yes, Yahweh, God Sabaoth, Yahweh is his title!	6 The LORD, the God of hosts, the LORD is his name!
7 So turn back with God's help, maintain faithful love and loyalty and always put your trust in your God.	7 You shall return by the help of your God, if you remain loyal and do right and always hope in your God.
8 Merchants use fraudulent scales. To defraud is his delight.	8 A merchant who holds a false balance, who loves to defraud!
9 'How rich I have become!' says Ephraim, 'I have made a fortune.' But of al his gains he wil keepnothing because of the sin of which he is guilty.	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 But I have been Yahweh your God since your days in Egypt and will make you live in tents again asin the days of Meeting.	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 will speak through prophets, I will give vision after vision and through the ministry of prophets wilspeak in parables.	11 I granted many visions and spoke to the prophets, through whom I set forth examples.
12 Is Gilead a sink of iniquity? Yes, they are a worthless lot! At Gilgal they sacrifice to bulls, that is whytheir altars are like heaps of stones in a ploughed field.	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 Jacob fled to the countryside of Aram, Israel slaved to win a wife, to win a wife he looked after sheep.	13 When Jacob fled to the land of Aram, he served for a wife; for a wife Israel tended sheep.
14 By a prophet Yahweh brought Israel out of Egypt and by a prophet Israel was preserved.	14 By a prophet the LORD brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet they were protected.
15 Ephraim gave bitter provocation- Yahweh will bring his bloodshed down on him, his Lord wil repayhim for his insult.	15 Ephraim has exasperated his lord; therefore he shall cast his blood-guilt upon him and repay him for his outrage.