Hosea 12; Hosea 13; Hosea 14

1 Efrayim feeds on wind, And chases the east wind. He continually multiplies lies and desolation. They make a covenant with Ashshur, And oil is carried into Mitzrayim.

2 The LORD also has a controversy with Yehudah, And will punish Ya`akov according to his ways; According to his deeds he will repay him.

3 In the womb he took his brother by the heel; And in his manhood he had power with God.

4 Indeed, he had power over the angel, and prevailed; He wept, and made supplication to him. He found him at Beit-El, and there he spoke with us,

5 Even the LORD, the God Tzva'ot,; The LORD is his name of renown!

6 Therefore turn to your God. Keep kindness and justice, And wait for your God continually.

7 A merchant has dishonest scales in his hand. He loves to defraud.

8 Efrayim said, "Surely I have become rich, I have found myself wealth. In all my wealth they won't find in me any iniquity that is sin."

9 "But I am the LORD your God from the land of Mitzrayim. I will yet again make you to dwell in tents, As in the days of the solemn feast.

10 I have also spoken to the prophets, And I have multiplied visions; And by the ministry of the prophets I have used parables.

11 If Gil`ad is wicked, Surely they are worthless. In Gilgal they sacrifice bulls. Indeed, their altars are like heaps in the furrows of the field.

12 Ya`akov fled into the country of Aram, And Yisra'el served to get a wife, And for a wife he tended flocks and herds.

13 By a prophet the LORD brought Yisra'el up out of Mitzrayim, And by a prophet he was preserved.

14 Efrayim has provoked to anger most bitterly. Therefore his blood will be left on him, And his his Lord will repay his contempt.

1 When Efrayim spoke, there was trembling. He exalted himself in Yisra'el, But when he became guilty in Ba`al, he died.

2 Now they sin more and more, And have made themselves molten images of their silver, Even idols according to their own understanding, All of them the work of the craftsmen. They say of them, "They offer human sacrifice and kiss the calves."

3 Therefore they will be like the morning cloud, And like the dew that passes away early, Like the chaff that is driven with the whirlwind out of the threshing floor, And like the smoke out of the chimney.

4 "Yet I am the LORD your God from the land of Mitzrayim; And you will know no god but me, And besides me there is no savior.

5 I knew you in the wilderness, In the land of great drought.

6 According to their pasture, so were they filled; They were filled, and their heart was exalted. Therefore they have forgotten me.

7 Therefore am I to them like a lion; Like a leopard I will lurk by the path.

8 I will meet them like a bear that is bereaved of her cubs, And will tear the covering of their heart. And there I will devour them like a lioness. The wild animal will tear them.

9 You are destroyed, Yisra'el, because you are against me, Against your help.

10 Where is your king now, that he may save you in all your cities? And your judges, of whom you said, 'Give me a king and princes?'

11 I have given you a king in my anger, And have taken him away in my wrath.

12 The guilt of Efrayim is stored up. His sin is stored up.

13 The sorrows of a travailing woman will come on him. He is an unwise son; For when it is time, he doesn't come to the opening of the womb.

14 I will ransom them from the power of She'ol. I will redeem them from death! Death, where are your plagues? She'ol, where is your destruction? Compassion will be hidden from my eyes.

15 Though he is fruitful among his brothers, an east wind will come, The breath of the LORD coming up from the wilderness; And his spring will become dry, And his fountain will be dried up. He will plunder the storehouse of treasure.

16 Shomron will bear her guilt; For she has rebelled against her God. They will fall by the sword. Their infants will be dashed in pieces, And their pregnant women will be ripped open."

1 Yisra'el, return to the LORD your God; For you have fallen because of your sin.

2 Take words with you, and return to the LORD. Tell him, "Forgive all our sins, And accept that which is good: So we offer like bulls our lips.

3 Ashshur can't save us. We won't ride on horses; Neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, 'Our gods!' For in you the fatherless finds mercy."

4 "I will heal their waywardness. I will love them freely; For my anger is turned away from him.

5 I will be like the dew to Yisra'el. He will blossom like the lily, And send down his roots like Levanon.

6 His branches will spread, And his beauty will be like the olive tree, And his fragrance like Levanon.

7 Men will dwell in his shade. They will revive like the grain, And blossom like the vine. Their fragrance will be like the wine of Levanon.

8 Efrayim, what have I to do any more with idols? I answer, and will take care of him. I am like a green fir tree; From me your fruit is found."

9 Who is wise, that he may understand these things? Who is prudent, that he may know them? For the ways of the LORD are right, And the righteous walk in them; But the rebellious stumble in them.