Oseas 12

¹Ephraim chases the wind, ever pursuing the gale. His lies and falsehoods are many: he comes to terms with Assyria, and carries oil to Egypt.

²The LORD has a grievance against Israel: he shall punish Jacob for his conduct, for his deeds he shall repay him.

³In the womb he supplanted his brother, and as a man he contended with God;

⁴He contended with the angel and triumphed, entreating him with tears. At Bethel he met God and there he spoke with him:

⁵The LORD, the God of hosts, the LORD is his name!

⁶You shall return by the help of your God, if you remain loyal and do right and always hope in your God.

⁷A merchant who holds a false balance, who loves to defraud!

⁸Though 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.

⁹I am the LORD, your God, since the land of Egypt; I will again have you live in tents, as in that appointed time.

¹⁰I granted many visions and spoke to the prophets, through whom I set forth examples.

¹¹In 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.

¹²When Jacob fled to the land of Aram, he served for a wife; for a wife Israel tended sheep.

¹³By a prophet the LORD brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet they were protected.

¹⁴Ephraim has exasperated his lord; therefore he shall cast his blood-guilt upon him and repay him for his outrage.