Israel’s Deceit and Injustice

¹Ephraim feeds on wind,

and chases the east wind.

He continually multiplies lies and desolation.

They make a covenant with Assyria,

and oil is carried into Egypt.

²Yahweh also has a controversy with Judah,

and will punish Jacob according to his ways;

according to his deeds he will repay him.

³In the womb he took his brother by the heel,

and in his manhood he contended with God.

⁴Indeed, he struggled with the angel, and prevailed;

he wept, and made supplication to him.

He found him at Bethel, and there he spoke with us—

⁵even Yahweh, the God of Armies.

Yahweh is his name of renown!

⁶Therefore turn to your God.

Keep kindness and justice,

and wait continually for your God.

⁷A merchant has dishonest scales in his hand.

He loves to defraud.

⁸Ephraim said, “Surely I have become rich.

I have found myself wealth.

In all my wealth they won’t find in me any iniquity that is sin.”

⁹“But I am Yahweh your God from the land of Egypt.

I will yet again make you dwell in tents,

as in the days of the solemn feast.

¹⁰I have also spoken to the prophets,

and I have multiplied visions;

and by the ministry of the prophets I have used parables.

¹¹If Gilead is wicked,

surely they are worthless.

In Gilgal they sacrifice bulls.

Indeed, their altars are like heaps in the furrows of the field.

¹²Jacob fled into the country of Aram.

Israel served to get a wife.

For a wife he tended flocks and herds.

¹³By a prophet Yahweh brought Israel up out of Egypt,

and by a prophet he was preserved.

¹⁴Ephraim has bitterly provoked anger.

Therefore his blood will be left on him,

and his Lord will repay his contempt.

Study Questions for Hosea 12

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