Chapter 12

1

Ephraim is enjoying wind, And is pursuing an east wind, All the day lying and spoiling he multiplieth, And a covenant with Asshur they make, And oil to Egypt is carried.

2

And a controversy hath Jehovah with Judah, To lay a charge on Jacob according to his ways, According to his doings He returneth to him.

3

In the womb he took his brother by the heel, And by his strength he was a prince with God,

4

Yea, he is a prince unto the Messenger, And he overcometh by weeping, And he maketh supplication to Him, At Bethel He doth find him, And there He doth speak with us,

5

Even Jehovah, God of the Hosts, Jehovah is His memorial.

6

And thou, through thy God, dost turn, Kindness and judgment keep thou, And wait on thy God continually.

7

Canaan! in his hand are balances of deceit! To oppress he hath loved.

8

And Ephraim saith: 'Surely I have become rich, I have found wealth for myself, All my labours -- they find not against me iniquity that is sin.'

9

And I -- Jehovah thy God from the land of Egypt, Again do I turn thee back into tents, As in the days of the appointed time.

10

And I have spoken unto the prophets, And I have multiplied vision, And by the hand of the prophets I use similes.

11

Surely Gilead is iniquity, Only, vanity they have been, In Gilead bullocks they have sacrificed, Also their altars are as heaps, on the furrows of a field.

12

And Jacob doth flee to the country of Aram, And Israel doth serve for a wife, Yea, for a wife he hath kept watch.

13

And by a prophet hath Jehovah brought up Israel out of Egypt, And by a prophet it hath been watched.

14

Ephraim hath provoked most bitterly, And his blood on himself he leaveth, And his reproach turn back to him doth his Lord!