Hosea, Chapter 12

1. Ephraim, feedeth on wind, and pursueth the east wind, all the day, falsehood and force, doth he magnify, -- and, a covenant with Assyria, would they solemnize, and, oil into Egypt, must be borne along.    2. But, a controversy, hath Yahweh with Judah, -- so that he may bring punishment on Jacob, according to his ways, According to his doings, repay him.    3. In the womb, took he his brother by the heel; and, in his manly vigour, strove he with God:    4. Yea he strove against a Messenger, and prevailed, he wept, and made supplication unto him, -- At Bethel, he found him, and, there, he spake with us;    5. And, Yahweh, is God of host, -- Yahweh, is his memorial.    6. Thou, therefore, by thy God, shalt return, -- lovingkindness and justice, do thou keep, so wait thou for thy God, continually.    7. A trafficker! in his hand, are balances of deceit, to oppress, he loveth.    8. So then Ephraim said, Surely I have gotten me riches, I have found wealth for myself, -- in all my toils, they cannot find in me perversity which is sin.    9. But, I, Yahweh, have been thy God, from the land of Egypt, -- I will yet make thee dwell in tents, as in the days of appointed meeting.    10. And I will lay my word upon the prophets, yea, I myself, have magnified, vision, -- and, by the hand of the prophets, will I use similitudes.    11. If, Gilead, is in sorrow, surely false, have they been, In Gilgal, have they sacrificed, bullocks, -- their very altars, shall become as heaps upon the furrows of the field.    12. When Jacob fled to the country of Syria, then Israel served for a wife, and, for a wife, he watched over a flock.    13. And, by a prophet, Yahweh, brought up, Israel out of Egypt, -- and, by a prophet, was he watched over.    14. Ephraim hath provoked, very bitterly, -- his own blood, therefore, upon him, will he leave, and, his reproach, shall his Lord, bring back to him.