Hosea 12
Bible in Basic English (BBE)
1 Ref The deceit of Ephraim and the false words of Israel are about me on every side. ...
2 Ref Ephraim's food is the wind, and he goes after the east wind: deceit and destruction are increasing day by day; they make an agreement with Assyria, and take oil into Egypt.
3 Ref The Lord has a cause against Judah, and will give punishment to Jacob for his ways; he will give him the reward of his acts.
4 Ref In the body of his mother he took his brother by the foot, and in his strength he was fighting with God;
5 Ref He had a fight with the angel and overcame him; he made request for grace to him with weeping; he came face to face with him in Beth-el and there his words came to him;
6 Ref Even the Lord, the God of armies; the Lord is his name.
7 Ref So then, come back to your God; keep mercy and right, and be waiting at all times on your God.
8 Ref As for Canaan, the scales of deceit are in his hands; he takes pleasure in twisted ways.
9 Ref And Ephraim said, Now I have got wealth and much property; in all my works no sin may be seen in me.
10 Ref But I am the Lord your God from the land of Egypt; I will give you tents for your living-places again as in the days of the holy meeting.
11 Ref My word came to the ears of the prophets and I gave them visions in great number, and by the mouths of the prophets I made use of comparisons.
12 Ref In Gilead there is evil. They are quite without value; in Gilgal they make offerings of oxen; truly their altars are like masses of stones in the hollows of a ploughed field.
13 Ref And Jacob went in flight into the field of Aram, and Israel became a servant for a wife, and for a wife he kept sheep.
14 Ref And by a prophet the Lord made Israel come up out of Egypt, and by a prophet he was kept safe.
15 I have been bitterly moved to wrath by Ephraim; so that his blood will be on him, and the Lord will make his shame come back on him.
American Standard-ASV1901 (ASV)
1 Ref Ephraim feedeth on wind, and followeth after the east wind: he continually multiplieth lies and desolation; and they make a covenant with Assyria, and oil is carried into Egypt.
2 Ref Jehovah hath also a controversy with Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways; according to his doings will he recompense him.
3 Ref In the womb he took his brother by the heel; and in his manhood he had power with God:
4 Ref yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed; he wept, and made supplication unto him: he found him at Beth-el, and there he spake with us,
5 Ref even Jehovah, the God of hosts; Jehovah is his memorial `name'.
6 Ref Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep kindness and justice, and wait for thy God continually.
7 Ref `He is' a trafficker, the balances of deceit are in his hand: he loveth to oppress.
8 Ref And Ephraim said, Surely I am become rich, I have found me wealth: in all my labors they shall find in me no iniquity that were sin.
9 Ref But I am Jehovah thy God from the land of Egypt; I will yet again make thee to dwell in tents, as in the days of the solemn feast.
10 Ref I have also spoken unto the prophets, and I have multiplied visions; and by the ministry of the prophets have I used similitudes.
11 Ref Is Gilead iniquity? they are altogether false; in Gilgal they sacrifice bullocks; yea, their altars are as heaps in the furrows of the field.
12 Ref And Jacob fled into the field of Aram, and Israel served for a wife, and for a wife he kept `sheep'.
13 Ref And by a prophet Jehovah brought Israel up out of Egypt, and by a prophet was he preserved.
14 Ref Ephraim hath provoked to anger most bitterly: therefore shall his blood be left upon him, and his reproach shall his Lord return unto him.
Young's Literal Translation (YLT)
1 Ref Ephraim is enjoying wind, And is pursuing an east wind, All the day lying and spoiling he multiplieth, And a covenant with Asshur they make, And oil to Egypt is carried.
2 Ref And a controversy hath Jehovah with Judah, To lay a charge on Jacob according to his ways, According to his doings He returneth to him.
3 Ref In the womb he took his brother by the heel, And by his strength he was a prince with God,
4 Ref Yea, he is a prince unto the Messenger, And he overcometh `by' weeping, And he maketh supplication to Him, At Bethel He doth find him, And there He doth speak with us,
5 Ref Even Jehovah, God of the Hosts, Jehovah `is' His memorial.
6 Ref And thou, through thy God, dost turn, Kindness and judgment keep thou, And wait on thy God continually.
7 Ref Canaan! in his hand `are' balances of deceit! To oppress he hath loved.
8 Ref And Ephraim saith: `Surely I have become rich, I have found wealth for myself, All my labours -- they find not against me iniquity that `is' sin.'
9 Ref And I -- Jehovah thy God from the land of Egypt, Again do I turn thee back into tents, As in the days of the appointed time.
10 Ref And I have spoken unto the prophets, And I have multiplied vision, And by the hand of the prophets I use similes.
11 Ref Surely Gilead `is' iniquity, Only, vanity they have been, In Gilead bullocks they have sacrificed, Also their altars `are' as heaps, on the furrows of a field.
12 Ref And Jacob doth flee to the country of Aram, And Israel doth serve for a wife, Yea, for a wife he hath kept watch.
13 Ref And by a prophet hath Jehovah brought up Israel out of Egypt, And by a prophet it hath been watched.
14 Ref Ephraim hath provoked most bitterly, And his blood on himself he leaveth, And his reproach turn back to him doth his Lord!