Ephraim Rebuked for Falsehood and Oppression

12¹ 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, ⁵ even Jehovah, the God of hosts; Jehovah is his memorial [name]. ⁶ Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep kindness and justice, and wait for thy God continually.

⁷ [He is] a trafficker, the balances of deceit are in his hand: he loveth to oppress. ⁸ 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 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 I have also spoken unto the prophets, and I have multiplied visions; and by the ministry of the prophets have I used similitudes. ¹¹ 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 And Jacob fled into the field of Aram, and Israel served for a wife, and for a wife he kept [sheep]. ¹³ And by a prophet Jehovah brought Israel up out of Egypt, and by a prophet was he preserved. ¹⁴ Ephraim hath provoked to anger most bitterly: therefore shall his blood be left upon him, and his reproach shall his Lord return unto him.

Hosea and the Adulteress

3¹ And Jehovah said unto me, Go again, love a woman beloved of [her] friend, and an adulteress, even as Jehovah loveth the children of Israel, though they turn unto other gods, and love cakes of raisins. ² So I bought her to me for fifteen [pieces] of silver, and a homer of barley, and a half-homer of barley; ³ and I said unto her, Thou shalt abide for me many days; thou shalt not play the harlot, and thou shalt not be any man's wife: so will I also be toward thee. ⁴ For the children of Israel shall abide many days without king, and without prince, and without sacrifice, and without pillar, and without ephod or teraphim: ⁵ afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek Jehovah their God, and David their king, and shall come with fear unto Jehovah and to his goodness in the latter days.