12:1 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.
12:2 The LORD has a charge to bring against Judah; he will punish Jacob according to his ways and repay him according to his deeds.
12:3 In the womb he grasped his brother’s heel; as a man he struggled with God.
12:4 He struggled with the angel and overcame him; he wept and begged for his favor. He found him at Bethel and talked with him there–
12:5 the LORD God Almighty, the LORD is his name of renown!
12:6 But you must return to your God; maintain love and justice, and wait for your God always.
12:7 The merchant uses dishonest scales; he loves to defraud.
12:8 Ephraim boasts, “I am very rich; I have become wealthy. With all my wealth they will not find in me any iniquity or sin.”
12:9 “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt; I will make you live in tents again, as in the days of your appointed feasts.
12:10 I spoke to the prophets, gave them many visions and told parables through them.”
12:11 Is Gilead wicked? Its people are worthless! Do they sacrifice bulls in Gilgal? Their altars will be like piles of stones on a plowed field.
12:12 Jacob fled to the country of Aram; Israel served to get a wife, and to pay for her he tended sheep.
12:13 The LORD used a prophet to bring Israel up from Egypt, by a prophet he cared for him.
12:14 But Ephraim has bitterly provoked him to anger; his Lord will leave upon him the guilt of his bloodshed and will repay him for his contempt.
12:1 Ephraim feeds on wind / And follows the east wind continually; / He multiplies lies and violence. / They make a covenant with Assyria, / And oil is carried into Egypt.
12:2 Jehovah has also a controversy with Judah / And will punish Jacob according to his ways; / According to his doings He will recompense him.
12:3 In the womb he grasped his brother by the heel, / And in his full strength he contended with God.
12:4 Indeed he contended with the Angel and prevailed; / He wept and made supplication to Him. / At Bethel he found Him; / And there He spoke with us,
12:5 Even Jehovah the God of hosts; / Jehovah is His memorial.
12:6 And you, return there to your God; / Keep lovingkindness and justice, / And wait on your God continually.
12:7 He is a merchant; / In his hand are balances of deceit; / He loves to extort.
12:8 And Ephraim said, / I have surely become rich; / I have found wealth for myself. / In all my labors / They will find with me / No iniquity, which would be sin.
12:9 But I have been Jehovah your God / Since the land of Egypt; / Yet again I will cause you to dwell in tents / As in the days of the appointed feast.
12:10 I have also spoken unto the prophets: / And I have multiplied vision, / And through the prophets I have used similitudes.
12:11 Is Gilead iniquity? They are altogether vanity. / In Gilgal they sacrifice oxen; / Indeed their altars are like heaps / In the furrows of a field.
12:12 And Jacob fled into the country of Aram; / And Israel served for a wife, / And for a wife he kept sheep.
12:13 And by a prophet Jehovah brought Israel up from Egypt, / And by a prophet he was kept.
12:14 Ephraim provoked Him to bitter anger; / Therefore his Lord will leave his bloodshed upon him / And will recompense him with his own reproach.