Hosea 12

Ephraim feeds on wind and pursues the east wind — making treaties with Assyria and sending oil to Egypt. The LORD has a controversy with Judah as well. Jacob wrestled with the angel and prevailed; the LORD brought Israel out of Egypt by a prophet, and by a prophet He preserved them. Ephraim has provoked the LORD bitterly, and his blood will be left on him.

v	King James Version	Modern English
1	Ephraim 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.	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.
2	The LORD hath also a controversy with Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways; according to his doings will he recompense him.	The LORD has a charge to bring against Judah; He will punish Jacob according to his ways and repay him according to His deeds.
3	He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and by his strength he had power with God:	In the womb He grasped His brother's heel; as a man he struggled with God.
4	Yea, 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;	He struggled with the angel and overcame him; he wept and begged for His favor. He met God at Bethel, and there God spoke with Him —
5	Even the LORD God of hosts; the LORD is his memorial.	the LORD God Almighty, the LORD is His name of renown!
6	Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep mercy and judgment, and wait on thy God continually.	But You must return to Your God; maintain love and justice, and wait for Your God always.
7	He is a merchant, the balances of deceit are in his hand: he loveth to oppress.	The merchant uses dishonest scales and loves to defraud.
8	And 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.	Ephraim boasts, "I am very rich; I have become wealthy. With all my wealth they will not find in me any iniquity or sin."
9	And 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.	I am the LORD Your God, Who brought You out of Egypt. I will yet make You to dwell in tabernacles, as in the days of the solemn feast.
10	I have also spoken by the prophets, and I have multiplied visions, and used similitudes, by the ministry of the prophets.	I spoke to the prophets, gave them many visions, and told parables through them.
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.	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	And Jacob fled into the country of Syria, and Israel served for a wife, and for a wife he kept sheep.	Jacob fled to the country of Aram; Israel served to get a wife, and to pay for her he tended sheep.
13	And by a prophet the LORD brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet was he preserved.	The LORD used a prophet to bring Israel up from Egypt, by a prophet He cared for Him.
14	Ephraim provoked him to anger most bitterly: therefore shall he leave his blood upon him, and his reproach shall his Lord return unto him.	But Ephraim has aroused His bitter anger; His Lord will leave on Him the guilt of His bloodshed and will repay Him for His contempt.