Hosea 12
Common English Bible
God’s charge against Judah
12 [a] Ephraim herds the wind,
and pursues the east wind all day long;
they multiply lies and violence;
they make a treaty with Assyria,
and oil is carried to Egypt.
2 The Lord has a charge against Judah,
and will punish Jacob according to his ways,
and respond to him according to his deeds.
3 From the womb he tried to be the oldest of twin brothers;
as an adult he struggled with God.
4 He struggled with the messenger and survived;
he wept and sought his favor;
he met him at Bethel,
and there he spoke with him.
5 The Lord God of heavenly forces,
the Lord is his name!
6 But you! Return to your God
with faithful love and justice,
and wait continually for your God.
7 He is a merchant; the means to cheat are in his hands;
he loves to take advantage of others.
8 Ephraim has said,
“I’m rich,
I’ve gained wealth for myself;
in all of my gain
no offense has been found in me
that would be sin.”
9 I am the Lord your God
from the land of Egypt;
I will make you live in tents again,
as in former days.
10 I spoke to the prophets;
and I multiplied visions,
and through them I uttered parables.
11 In Gilead there is wickedness;
they will surely come to nothing.
In Gilgal they sacrifice bulls,
so their altars will be like piles of stones
on the rows of the field.
12 Jacob fled to the land of Aram;
there Israel served for a wife,
and for a wife he kept watch over livestock.
13 By a prophet the Lord brought Israel up from Egypt,
and by a prophet he was guarded.
14 Ephraim has given bitter offense;
so the Lord will bring his crimes down on him
and pay him back for his wrongdoing.
Footnotes
- Hosea 12:1 12:2 in Heb
Hosea 12
English Standard Version
12 Ephraim feeds on the wind
and pursues (A)the east wind all day long;
they multiply (B)falsehood and violence;
(C)they make a covenant with Assyria,
and (D)oil is carried to Egypt.
The Lord's Indictment of Israel and Judah
2 (E)The Lord has an indictment against Judah
and will punish Jacob according to his ways;
he will repay him according to his deeds.
3 (F)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.
(G)He met God[a] at Bethel,
and there God spoke with us—
5 the Lord, the God of hosts,
(H)the Lord is his memorial name:
6 “So you, (I)by the help of your God, return,
(J)hold fast to love and justice,
and wait continually for your God.”
7 A merchant, in whose hands are (K)false balances,
he loves (L)to oppress.
8 Ephraim has said, “Ah, but (M)I am rich;
I have found wealth for myself;
in all my labors (N)they cannot find in me iniquity or sin.”
9 (O)I am the Lord your God
from the land of Egypt;
I will again make you (P)dwell in tents,
as in the days of the appointed feast.
10 (Q)I spoke to the prophets;
it was I who multiplied (R)visions,
and through the prophets gave parables.
11 (S)If there is iniquity in Gilead,
they shall surely come to nothing:
(T)in Gilgal they sacrifice bulls;
(U)their altars also are like stone heaps
(V)on the furrows of the field.
12 (W)Jacob fled to the land of Aram;
there Israel (X)served for a wife,
and for a wife he guarded sheep.
13 By (Y)a prophet (Z)the Lord brought Israel up from Egypt,
and by a prophet he was guarded.
14 (AA)Ephraim has given bitter provocation;
so his Lord (AB)will leave his bloodguilt on him
(AC)and will repay him for his disgraceful deeds.
Footnotes
- Hosea 12:4 Hebrew him
Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
