New International Reader's Version

Hosea 12:5-13 New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

5. He is the Lord God who rules over all. He wants us to remember that his name is The Lord.

6. People of Jacob, you must return to your God. You must hold on to love and do what is fair. You must trust in your God always.

7. You are like a trader who uses dishonest scales. You love to cheat others.

8. People of Ephraim, you brag, "We are very rich. We've become wealthy. And no one can prove we sinned to gain all of this wealth."

9. The Lord says, "I am the Lord your God. I brought you out of Egypt. But I will make you live in tents again. That is what you did when you celebrated the Feast of Booths in the desert.

10. I spoke to the prophets. They saw many visions. I gave you warnings through them."

11. The people of Gilead are evil! They aren't worth anything! Gilgal's people sacrifice bulls to other gods. Their altars will become like piles of stones on a plowed field.

12. Jacob ran away to the country of Aram. There Israel served Laban to get a wife. He took care of sheep to pay for her.

13. The prophet Moses brought Israel up from Egypt. The Lord used him to take care of them.