Hosea 12:1-8 ▼

1 |Ephraim feeds on the wind, chasing after the eastern winds, storing up lies and desolation day after day. They are making a contract with the Assyrians, and sending oil to Egypt.

2 The LORD accuses Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways; he will repay him for what he does.

3 He circumvented his brother in the womb, and as an adult he fought with God.

4 He even fought the angel and won; he cried and prayed to him. Then at Bethel he found him, and there he spoke with us—

5 the LORD God of the Heavenly Armies— the LORD is his name.

6 So you, return to your God; guard grace and justice, and look to your God always.

7 |Now as for the merchant, deceitful balances remain in his hand, and he loves to defraud.

8 Ephraim claims, 'I have become rich, I have made a fortune! Because of all my wealth, no one will find any iniquity or sin in me.'