Hosea 12:1–4

1 Ephraim feeds on the wind;

he pursues the east wind all day

and multiplies lies and violence.

He makes a treaty with Assyria

and sends olive oil to Egypt.

2 The Lord has a charge to bring against Judah;

he will punish Jacob according to his ways

and repay him according to his deeds.

3 In the womb he grasped his brother’s heel;

as a man he struggled with God.

4 He struggled with the angel and overcame him;

he wept and begged for his favor.

He found him at Bethel

and talked with him there—

1 Ephraim feedeth on wind, and followeth after the east wind:

He daily increaseth lies and desolation;

And they do make a covenant with the Assyrians,

And oil is carried into Egypt.

2 The Lord hath also a controversy with Judah,

And will punish Jacob according to his ways;

According to his doings will he recompense him.

3 He took his brother by the heel in the womb,

And by his strength he had power with God:

4 Yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed:

He wept, and made supplication unto him:

He found him in Beth-el, and there he spake with us;

1  The people of Israel feed on the wind;

they chase after the east wind all day long.

They pile up lies and violence;

they are making an alliance with Assyria

while sending olive oil to buy support from Egypt.

2 Now the Lord is bringing charges against Judah.

He is about to punish Jacob for all his deceitful ways,

and pay him back for all he has done.

3 Even in the womb,

Jacob struggled with his brother;

when he became a man,

he even fought with God.

4 Yes, he wrestled with the angel and won.

He wept and pleaded for a blessing from him.

There at Bethel he met God face to face,

and God spoke to him—

1 “Ephraim feeds on the wind,

And pursues the east wind;

He daily increases lies and desolation.

Also they make a covenant with the Assyrians,

And oil is carried to Egypt.

2 “The Lord also brings a charge against Judah,

And will punish Jacob according to his ways;

According to his deeds He will recompense him.

3 He took his brother by the heel in the womb,

And in his strength he struggled with God.

4 Yes, he struggled with the Angel and prevailed;

He wept, and sought favor from Him.

He found Him in Bethel,

And there He spoke to us—

1 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.

2 The Lord also has some things against Judah.

He will punish Israel for what they have done;

he will give them what they deserve.

3 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.

4 When Jacob wrestled with the angel and won,

he cried and asked for his blessing.

Later, God met with him at Bethel

and spoke with him there.

1 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 Jehovah hath also a controversy with Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways; according to his doings will he recompense him. 3 In the womb he took his brother by the heel; and in his manhood he had power with God: 4 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,

1 Ephraim feedeth on wind, and pursueth after the east wind: all day long he multiplieth lies and desolation; and they make a covenant with Assyria, and oil is carried into Egypt. 2 Jehovah hath also a controversy with Judah, and he will punish Jacob according to his ways; according to his doings will he recompense him. 3 He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and in his strength he wrestled with God. 4 Yea, he wrestled with the Angel, and prevailed; he wept, and made supplication unto him: he found him in Bethel, and there he spoke with us,

1 The people of Ephraim try to catch the wind 

and try to chase the east wind all day. 

They are very violent and destructive. 

They make treaties with Assyria and take olive oil to Egypt. 

2 The Lord brings charges against Judah and punishes Jacob 

because of the way their people act. 

He will pay them back for what they have done. 

3 Their ancestor Jacob held on to his brother’s heel 

while the two of them were in their mother’s womb. 

When Jacob became a man, he struggled with God. 

4 He struggled with the Messenger and won. 

Jacob cried and pleaded with him. 

Jacob found him at Bethel, 

and he talked with him there. 

1 Ephraim chases the wind

and pursues the east wind.

He continually multiplies lies and violence.

He makes a covenant with Assyria,

and olive oil is carried to Egypt.

2 The Lord also has a dispute with Judah.

He is about to punish Jacob according to his ways;

He will repay him based on his actions.

3 In the womb he grasped his brother’s heel,

and as an adult he wrestled with God.

4 Jacob struggled with the Angel and prevailed;

he wept and sought His favor.

He found him at Bethel,

and there He spoke with him.

1 Ephraim herds the wind

and pursues the east wind all day long;

they multiply falsehood and violence;

they make a treaty with Assyria,

and oil is carried to Egypt.

2 The Lord has an indictment against Judah

and will punish Jacob according to his ways

and repay him according to his deeds.

3 In the womb he tried to supplant his brother,

and in his manhood he strove with God.

4 He strove with the angel and prevailed;

he wept and sought his favor;

he met him at Bethel,

and there he spoke with him.

1 Ephraim herds the wind

and is pursuing the east wind all day long;

he multiplies deception and violence

and he makes a treaty with Assyria,

and oil is brought to Egypt.

2 Yahweh has a quarrel with Judah

and will punish Jacob according to his ways

and repay him according to his deeds.

3 In the womb he deceived his brother,

and in his manhood he struggled with God.

4 He struggled with the angel and prevailed;

he pleaded for his mercy.

He met him at Bethel,

and there he spoke with him.

1 The people of Ephraim look to others for help.

It’s like chasing the wind.

The wind they keep chasing

is hot and dry.

They tell more and more lies.

They are always hurting others.

They make a peace treaty with Assyria.

They send olive oil to Egypt to get help.

2 The Lord is bringing charges against Judah.

He will punish Jacob’s people

because of how they act.

He’ll pay them back

for the evil things they’ve done.

3 Even before Jacob was born,

he was holding on to his brother’s heel.

When he became a man,

he struggled with God.

4 At Peniel he struggled with the angel and won.

He sobbed and begged for his blessing.

God also met with him at Bethel.

He talked with him there.

1 Ephraim feeds on wind,

And pursues the east wind continually;

He multiplies lies and violence.

Moreover, he makes a covenant with Assyria,

And oil is carried to Egypt.

2 The Lord also has a dispute with Judah,

And will punish Jacob according to his ways;

He will repay him according to his deeds.

3 In the womb he took his brother by the heel,

And in his maturity he contended with God.

4 Yes, he wrestled with the angel and prevailed;

He wept and sought His favor.

He found Him at Bethel

And there He spoke with us,