Ephraim chases the east wind and multiplies lies while Jacob’s wrestling with an angel at Bethel anchors all 14 verses in Israel’s inherited struggle with God.
Full sung version coming soon.
Lyrics
Ephraim surrounds me with falsehood And the house of Israel with deceit
Judah still strays from God He is unfaithful to the Holy One Ephraim follows after vanity He multiplies lies
He makes a covenant with the Assyrians And carries oil into Egypt The LORD has also a controversy with Judah He will punish Jacob according to his ways
According to his deeds he will repay him He took his brother by the heel in the womb And by his strength he contended with God
He contended with an angel and prevailed He wept and made supplication to him By his strength he had power with God Yes, and he had power over the angel and prevailed
Yet your father cried to us From the city of Bethel and there he spoke with us Even the LORD, the God of hosts, the LORD, is his memorial name
Therefore turn to your God, keep mercy and justice And wait for your God continually The merchant uses false balances
But Ephraim said, I have become rich I have found wealth for myself In all my labors they shall find no iniquity in me That were to be counted sin
Listen
Hosea 12 sung by Psalm Selah. The whole Bible, one chapter at a time.