Capítulo 12

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 [Jacob] means [he grasps the heel], a Hebrew idiom for [he takes advantage of] or [he deceives]. 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 -

5 - the Lord God Almighty, the Lord is his name!

6 - But you must return to your God; maintain love and justice, and wait for your God always.

7 - The merchant uses dishonest scales and loves to defraud.

8 - Ephraim boasts, "I am very rich; I have become wealthy. With all my wealth they will not find in me any iniquity or sin."

9 - "I have been the Lord your God ever since you came out of Egypt; I will make you live in tents again, as in the days of your appointed festivals.

10 - I spoke to the prophets, gave them many visions and told parables through them."

11 - Is Gilead wicked? Its people are worthless! Do they sacrifice bulls in Gilgal? Their altars will be like piles of stones on a plowed field.

12 - Jacob fled to the country of Aram That is, Northwest Mesopotamia; Israel served to get a wife, and to pay for her he tended sheep.

13 - The Lord used a prophet to bring Israel up from Egypt, by a prophet he cared for him.

14 - But Ephraim has aroused his bitter anger; his Lord will leave on him the guilt of his bloodshed and will repay him for his contempt.