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Hosea 12
New Life Version
Hosea 12
New Life Version
12 Ephraim’s food is the wind, he goes after the east wind all day long. He tells many lies and does much in his anger. He makes an agreement with Assyria and takes oil to Egypt. 2 The Lord has a cause against Judah, and will punish Jacob for his ways. He will make him pay for what he has done. 3 Before he was born he took his brother by the heel. And when he was grown he fought with God. 4 He fought with the angel and won. He cried and begged for His favor. He met God at Bethel, and God spoke with him there. 5 This was the Lord, the God of All. The Lord is His name. 6 So return to your God. Show kindness and do what is fair, and wait for your God all the time. 7 One who buys and sells and who lies about the weight of things loves to make it hard for others. 8 Ephraim has said, “I have become rich. I have found riches for myself. With all my riches they will not find any sin in me.”
9 “I am the Lord your God Who brought you out of Egypt. I will make you live in tents again, as in the days of your special suppers. 10 I have spoken to the men who speak for Me. I have given many special dreams. And I gave picture-stories through the men who speak for Me.”
11 Is there sin in Gilead? For sure its people are of no worth. In Gilgal they kill bulls in worship. Their altars are like the many stones laid beside a plowed field. 12 Jacob ran away to the land of Aram. There he worked for a wife, and for a wife he kept sheep. 13 By a man who spoke for Him, the Lord brought Israel from Egypt. And by a man who spoke for Him, the Lord cared for him. 14 But Ephraim has made the Lord very angry. So the Lord will leave on him the guilt of his blood, and make his shame return to him.
Hosea 12
New International Version
Hosea 12
New International Version
12 [a]1 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)
2 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)
3 In the womb he grasped his brother’s heel;(J)
as a man he struggled(K) with God.
4 He struggled with the angel and overcame him;
he wept and begged for his favor.
He found him at Bethel(L)
and talked with him there—
5 the Lord God Almighty,
the Lord is his name!(M)
6 But you must return(N) to your God;
maintain love and justice,(O)
and wait for your God always.(P)
7 The merchant uses dishonest scales(Q)
and loves to defraud.
8 Ephraim boasts,(R)
“I am very rich; I have become wealthy.(S)
With all my wealth they will not find in me
any iniquity or sin.”
9 “I have been the Lord your God
ever since you came out of Egypt;(T)
I will make you live in tents(U) again,
as in the days of your appointed festivals.
10 I spoke to the prophets,
gave them many visions
and told parables(V) through them.”(W)
11 Is Gilead wicked?(X)
Its people are worthless!
Do they sacrifice bulls in Gilgal?(Y)
Their altars will be like piles of stones
on a plowed field.(Z)
12 Jacob fled to the country of Aram[c];(AA)
Israel served to get a wife,
and to pay for her he tended sheep.(AB)
13 The Lord used a prophet to bring Israel up from Egypt,(AC)
by a prophet he cared for him.(AD)
14 But Ephraim has aroused his bitter anger;
his Lord will leave on him the guilt of his bloodshed(AE)
and will repay him for his contempt.(AF)
Footnotes
- Hosea 12:1 In Hebrew texts 12:1-14 is numbered 12:2-15.
- Hosea 12:2 Jacob means he grasps the heel, a Hebrew idiom for he takes advantage of or he deceives.
- Hosea 12:12 That is, Northwest Mesopotamia
New Life Version (NLV)
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