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12 What Israel does is as useless as chasing the wind;
    he chases the east wind all day.
They tell more and more lies
    and do more and more violence.
They make agreements with Assyria,
    and they send a gift of olive oil to Egypt.
The Lord also has some things against Judah.
    He will punish Israel for what they have done;
    he will give them what they deserve.
Their ancestor Jacob held on to his brother’s heel
    while the two of them were being born.
When he grew to be a man,
    he wrestled with God.

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12 [a]Ephraim(A) feeds on the wind;(B)
    he pursues the east wind all day
    and multiplies lies and violence.(C)
He makes a treaty with Assyria(D)
    and sends olive oil to Egypt.(E)
The Lord has a charge(F) to bring against Judah;(G)
    he will punish(H) Jacob[b] according to his ways
    and repay him according to his deeds.(I)
In the womb he grasped his brother’s heel;(J)
    as a man he struggled(K) with God.

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Footnotes

  1. Hosea 12:1 In Hebrew texts 12:1-14 is numbered 12:2-15.
  2. Hosea 12:2 Jacob means he grasps the heel, a Hebrew idiom for he takes advantage of or he deceives.