Hosea 12

1Ephraim feedeth on wind, and followeth after the east wind: he daily increaseth lies and desolation; and they do make a covenant with the Assyrians, and oil is carried into Egypt.

2The LORD hath also a controversy with Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways; according to his doings will he recompense him.

3¶ He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and by his strength he had power with God:

4Yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed: he wept, and made supplication unto him: he found him [in] Beth-el, and there he spake with us;

5Even the LORD God of hosts; the LORD [is] his memorial.

6Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep mercy and judgment, and wait on thy God continually.

7¶ [He is] a merchant, the balances of deceit [are] in his hand: he loveth to oppress.

8And Ephraim said, Yet I am become rich, I have found me out substance: [in] all my labours they shall find none iniquity in me that [were] sin.

9And I [that am] the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt will yet make thee to dwell in tabernacles, as in the days of the solemn feast.

10I have also spoken by the prophets, and I have multiplied visions, and used similitudes, by the ministry of the prophets.

11[Is there] iniquity [in] Gilead? surely they are vanity: they sacrifice bullocks in Gilgal; yea, their altars [are] as heaps in the furrows of the fields.

12And Jacob fled into the country of Syria, and Israel served for a wife, and for a wife he kept [sheep].

13And by a prophet the LORD brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet was he preserved.

14Ephraim provoked [him] to anger most bitterly: therefore shall he leave his blood upon him, and his reproach shall his Lord return unto him.