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Bible translation is a difficult thing. What are we to conclude when two English translations say the exact opposite?
A friend of mine was lamenting a contradiction that he discovered in the various translations of Hosea 11:12. He wanted to know: how can we trust the Bible, when respected translators translate the same passage so differently? Here are the two translations, so you can see for yourself what he was talking about.
English Standard Version (ESV), Hosea 11:12
“Ephraim has surrounded me with lies, and the house of Israel with deceit, but Judah still walks with God and is faithful to the Holy One.”
New American Standard Bible (NASB), Hosea 11:12
“Ephraim surrounds Me with lies and the house of Israel with deceit; Judah is also unruly against God, even against the Holy One who is faithful.”
Since there are a lot of Christians who still distrust any version but the King James Version, let’s see how it translates the same passage.
King James Version (KJV), Hosea 11:12
“Ephraim compasseth me about with lies, and the house of Israel with deceit: but Judah yet ruleth with God, and is faithful with the saints.”