Hosea

¹Ephraim feeds on the wind;he pursues the east wind all dayand multiplies lies and violence.He makes a treaty with Assyriaand sends olive oil to Egypt. ²The Lord has a charge to bring against Judah;he will punish Jacob according to his waysand repay him according to his deeds. ³In the womb he grasped his brother’s heel;as a man he struggled with God. ⁴He struggled with the angel and overcame him;he wept and begged for his favour.He found him at Betheland talked with him there – ⁵the Lord God Almighty,the Lord is his name! ⁶But you must return to your God;maintain love and justice,and wait for your God always. ⁷The merchant uses dishonest scalesand loves to defraud. ⁸Ephraim boasts,‘I am very rich; I have become wealthy.With all my wealth they will not find in meany iniquity or sin.’ ⁹‘I have been the Lord your Godever since you came out of Egypt;I will make you live in tents again,as in the days of your appointed festivals. ¹⁰I spoke to the prophets,gave them many visionsand told parables through them.’ ¹¹Is Gilead wicked?Its people are worthless!Do they sacrifice bulls in Gilgal?Their altars will be like piles of stoneson a ploughed field. ¹²Jacob fled to the country of Aram;Israel served to get a wife,and to pay for her he tended sheep. ¹³The Lord used a prophet to bring Israel up from Egypt,by a prophet he cared for him. ¹⁴But Ephraim has aroused his bitter anger;his Lord will leave on him the guilt of his bloodshedand will repay him for his contempt.