Hosea 12

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 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 3 he took his brother by the heel in the womb, and by his strength he had power with god 4 yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed he wept, and made supplication unto him he found him in bethel, and there he spake with us; 5 even the lord god of hosts; the lord is his memorial 6 therefore 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 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 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 10 i 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 12 and jacob fled into the country of syria, and israel served for a wife, and for a wife he kept sheep 13 and by a prophet the lord brought israel out of egypt, and by a prophet was he preserved 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