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. (2Ki 17:4; Jer 18:17; Ho 5:13; Ho 7:11; Ho 11:12; Ho 13:15)
The Lord’s Indictment of Israel and Judah
2The Lord has an indictment against Judah and will punish Jacob according to his ways; he will repay him according to his deeds. (Ho 4:1)3In the womb he took his brother by the heel, and in his manhood he strove with God. (Ge 25:26; Ge 27:36)4He strove with the angel and prevailed; he wept and sought his favor. He met God[1] at Bethel, and there God spoke with us— (Ge 28:12; Ge 28:19; Ge 35:9; Ge 35:15)5the Lord, the God of hosts, the Lord is his memorial name: (Ex 3:15)6“So you, by the help of your God, return, hold fast to love and justice, and wait continually for your God.” (Ho 14:1; Joe 2:12; Mic 6:8)7A merchant, in whose hands are false balances, he loves to oppress. (Pr 11:1; Pr 20:23; Am 8:5; Mic 2:2; Mic 6:11)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.” (De 29:19; Zec 11:5; Re 3:17)9I 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. (Le 23:39; Ne 8:14; Ho 13:4)10I spoke to the prophets; it was I who multiplied visions, and through the prophets gave parables. (2Ki 17:13; Joe 2:28)11If 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. (Ho 4:15; Ho 6:8; Ho 8:11; Ho 9:15; Ho 10:4)12Jacob fled to the land of Aram; there Israel served for a wife, and for a wife he guarded sheep. (Ge 28:5; Ge 29:20; Ge 29:28)13By a prophet the Lord brought Israel up from Egypt, and by a prophet he was guarded. (Ex 12:50; De 18:15; Ps 77:20; Isa 63:11)14Ephraim has given bitter provocation; so his Lord will leave his bloodguilt on him and will repay him for his disgraceful deeds. (2Ki 17:17; Ho 4:2; Ho 12:2)
Hosea 12
New International Version
1[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[2] 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 favour. 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 ploughed field.12Jacob fled to the country of Aram[3]; 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.
Hosea 12
King James Version
1Ephraim feedeth on wind, and followeth after the east wind: he daily increaseth lies and desolation; and they do make a covenant with the Assyrians, and oil is carried into Egypt.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:4Yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed: he wept, and made supplication unto him: he found him in Bethel, and there he spake with us;5Even the LORD God of hosts; the LORD is his memorial.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.8And Ephraim said, Yet I am become rich, I have found me out substance: in all my labours they shall find none iniquity in me that were sin.9And I that am the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt will yet make thee to dwell in tabernacles, as in the days of the solemn feast.10I have also spoken by the prophets, and I have multiplied visions, and used similitudes, by the ministry of the prophets.11Is there iniquity in Gilead? surely they are vanity: they sacrifice bullocks in Gilgal; yea, their altars are as heaps in the furrows of the fields.12And Jacob fled into the country of Syria, and Israel served for a wife, and for a wife he kept sheep .13And by a prophet the LORD brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet was he preserved.14Ephraim provoked him to anger most bitterly: therefore shall he leave his blood upon him, and his reproach shall his Lord return unto him.
Hosea 12
New International Reader’s Version
1The people of Ephraim look to others for help. It’s like chasing the wind. The wind they keep chasing is hot and dry. They tell more and more lies. They are always hurting others. They make a peace treaty with Assyria. They send olive oil to Egypt to get help.2The LORD is bringing charges against Judah. He will punish Jacob’s people because of how they act. He’ll pay them back for the evil things they’ve done.3Even before Jacob was born, he was holding on to his brother’s heel. When he became a man, he struggled with God.4At Peniel he struggled with the angel and won. Jacob wept and begged for his blessing. God also met with him at Bethel. He talked with him there.5He is the LORD God who rules over all. His name is the LORD.6People of Jacob, you must return to your God. You must hold on to love and do what is fair. You must trust in your God always.7You are like a trader who uses dishonest scales. You love to cheat others.8People of Ephraim, you boast, ‘We are very rich. We’ve become wealthy. And no one can prove we sinned to gain all this wealth.’9The LORD says, ‘I have been the LORD your God ever since you came out of Egypt. But I will make you live in tents again. That is what you did when you celebrated the Feast of Booths in the desert.10I spoke to the prophets. They saw many visions. I gave you warnings through them.’11The people of Gilead are evil! They aren’t worth anything! Gilgal’s people sacrifice bulls to other gods. Their altars will become like piles of stones on a ploughed field.12Jacob ran away to the country of Aram. There Israel served Laban to get a wife. He took care of sheep to pay for her.13The prophet Moses brought Israel up from Egypt. The LORD used him to take care of them.14But Ephraim’s people have made the LORD very angry. Their Lord will hold them accountable for the blood they’ve spilled. He’ll pay them back for the shameful things they’ve done.