Hosea 12

1 Ephraim feeds on the wind

and pursues *[ch. 13:15;Jer. 18:17] the east wind all day long;

they multiply *[See ch. 11:12above] falsehood and violence;

*See ch. 5:13they make a covenant with Assyria,

and *[ch. 7:11;2 Kgs. 17:4]oil is carried to Egypt.

The Lord’s Indictment of Israel and Judah

2 *See ch. 4:1The Lord has an indictment against Judah

and will punish Jacob according to his ways;

he will repay him according to his deeds.

3 *Gen. 25:26;[Gen. 27:36]In the womb he took his brother by the heel,

and in his manhood he strove with God.

4 He strove with the angel and prevailed;

he wept and sought his favor.

*Gen. 28:12,19;35:9,10,15He met God*12:4 Hebrew him at Bethel,

and there God spoke with us—

5 the Lord, the God of hosts,

*Ex. 3:15the Lord is his memorial name:

6 "So you, *ch. 14:1,2;Joel 2:12,13by the help of your God, return,

*[Mic. 6:8]hold fast to love and justice,

and wait continually for your God."

7 A merchant, in whose hands are *Amos 8:5;Mic. 6:11;[Prov. 11:1;20:23] false balances,

he loves *Mic. 2:2to oppress.

8 Ephraim has said, "Ah, but *Zech. 11:5;Rev. 3:17I am rich;

I have found wealth for myself;

in all my labors *[Deut. 29:19]they cannot find in me iniquity or sin."

9 *ch. 13:4I am the Lord your God

from the land of Egypt;

I will again make you *See Lev. 23:39-43;Neh. 8:14-18dwell in tents,

as in the days of the appointed feast.

10 *[2 Kgs. 17:13] I spoke to the prophets;

it was I who multiplied *[Joel 2:28]visions,

and through the prophets gave parables.

11 *ch. 6:8If there is iniquity in Gilead,

they shall surely come to nothing:

*ch. 4:15;9:15in Gilgal they sacrifice bulls;

*ch. 8:11their altars also are like stone heaps

*ch. 10:4on the furrows of the field.

12 *Gen. 28:5Jacob fled to the land of Aram;

there Israel *Gen. 29:20,28served for a wife,

and for a wife he guarded sheep.

13 By *[Deut. 18:15] a prophet *Ex. 12:50,51;Ps. 77:20;See Isa. 63:11-14the Lord brought Israel up from Egypt,

and by a prophet he was guarded.

14 *2 Kgs. 17:17Ephraim has given bitter provocation;

so his Lord *See ch. 4:2will leave his bloodguilt on him

*ver. 2and will repay him for his disgraceful deeds.