Hosea 12:1

Ephraim chases the wind and pursues the east wind all day long; he multiplies lies and violence; he makes a covenant with Assyria and sends olive oil to Egypt.

² The LORD also brings a charge against Judah. He will punish Jacob according to his ways and repay him according to his deeds.

³ In the womb he grasped his brother’s heel, and in his vigor he wrestled with God.

This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: Ephraim chases the wind and pursues the east wind all day long; he multiplies lies and violence; he makes a covenant with Assyria and sends olive oil to Egypt.
KJV: Ephraim feedeth on wind, and followeth after the east wind: he daily increaseth lies and desolation; and they do make a covenant with the Assyrians, and oil is carried into Egypt.
WEB: Ephraim feeds on wind, and chases the east wind. He continually multiplies lies and desolation. They make a covenant with Assyria, and oil is carried into Egypt.
ASV: 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.
DARBY: Ephraim feedeth on wind, and pursueth after the east wind: all day long he multiplieth lies and desolation; and they make a covenant with Assyria, and oil is carried into Egypt.
BLB: Ephraim is grazing [on] the wind and pursuing the east wind all the day, he multiplies lies and violence; they cut a covenant with Assyria and oil is carried to Egypt.

ÅB: Efra'im higer etter vind, han jager etter østenvær; hele dagen dynger han opp løgn og ødeleggelse; de inngår pakt med Assur, de fører olje til Egypt.
OTB: Efraim lever av vind,
Og jager stadig etter østvinden;
Han øker løgn og vold.
Dessuten gjør de en pakt med Assyria,
Og olje blir brakt til Egypt.
B1930: Efra'im higer efter vind, han jager efter østenvær; hele dagen dynger han op løgn og ødeleggelse; de inngår pakt med Assur, de fører olje til Egypten.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Hosea 11:12
Ephraim surrounds Me with lies, the house of Israel with deceit; but Judah still walks with God and is faithful to the Holy One.
Read in context
Hosea 8:7
For they sow the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind. There is no standing grain; what sprouts fails to yield flour. Even if it should produce, the foreigners would swallow it up.
Read in context
Hosea 5:13
When Ephraim saw his sickness and Judah his wound, then Ephraim turned to Assyria and sent to the great king. But he cannot cure you or heal your wound.
Read in context
Jeremiah 22:22
The wind will drive away all your shepherds, and your lovers will go into captivity. Then you will be ashamed and humiliated because of all your wickedness.
Read in context
Ezekiel 17:10
Even if it is transplanted, will it flourish? Will it not completely wither when the east wind strikes? It will wither on the bed where it sprouted.’”
Read in context
Job 15:2
“Does a wise man answer with empty counsel or fill his belly with the hot east wind?
Read in context
Isaiah 30:6–7
This is the burden against the beasts of the Negev: Through a land of hardship and distress, of lioness and lion, of viper and flying serpent, they carry their wealth on the backs of donkeys and their treasures on the humps of camels, to a people of no profit to them.
Read in context
2 Kings 17:4–6
But the king of Assyria discovered that Hoshea had conspired to send envoys to King So of Egypt, and that he had not paid tribute to the king of Assyria as in previous years. Therefore the king of Assyria arrested Hoshea and put him in prison.
Read in context