Oseas 12:1-7

1  El pueblo de Israel
se alimenta del viento;
todo el día corre tras el viento del oriente.
Amontonan mentiras y violencia;
hacen una alianza con Asiria
mientras mandan aceite de oliva a fin de comprar el apoyo de Egipto.

2 Ahora el Señor
presenta cargos contra Judá.
Está a punto de castigar a Jacob
por todos sus caminos engañosos
y cobrarle por todo lo que hizo.

3 Aun en la matriz,
Jacob luchó con su hermano;
cuando se hizo hombre,
hasta peleó con Dios.

4 Sí, luchó con el ángel y venció.
Lloró y clamó para que lo bendijera.
Allá en Betel se encontró cara a cara con Dios
y Dios habló con él,

5 ¡el Señor
Dios de los Ejércitos Celestiales,
el Señor
es su nombre!

6 Así que ahora, vuélvete a tu Dios.
Actúa con amor y justicia,
y confía siempre en él.

7 Pero no, la gente se comporta como astutos comerciantes
que venden con balanzas fraudulentas;
les encanta estafar.

Oseas 12:1-7 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO HOSEA 12

This chapter contains complaints and charges both against Israel and Judah, and threatens them with punishment in case they repent not, which they are exhorted to: and first Ephraim is charged with idolatry, vain confidence in, and alliances with, foreign nations, Ho 12:1; and then the Lord declares he has a controversy with Judah, and will punish the inhabitants of it for their sins, Ho 12:2; which are aggravated by their being the descendants of so great a man as Jacob, who got the advantage of his elder brother, had much power with God, and received favours from him, and they also, Ho 12:3-5; and therefore are exhorted to turn to God, wait on him, and do that which is right and good, Ho 12:6. Ephraim is again in his turn charged with fraudulent dealing in trade, and with oppression, and the love of it; and yet pretended he got riches by his own labour, without wronging any, Ho 12:7,8; nevertheless, the Lord promises them public ordinances of worship, and joy in them, and the ministry of his prophets, Ho 12:9,10; though for the present they were guilty of gross idolatry, Ho 12:11; which is aggravated by the raising of Jacob their progenitor from a low estate, and the wonderful preservation of him, and the bringing of them out of Egypt, Ho 12:12,13; and the chapter is closed with observing Ephraim's bitter provocation of God, for which his reproach should return unto him, and his blood be left upon him, Ho 12:14.