7 The merchant uses dishonest scales and loves to defraud.
7 He is a merchant,
7 A merchant, in whose hands are false balances, he loves to oppress.
7 The businessmen engage in wholesale fraud. They love to rip people off!
7 "A cunning Canaanite! Deceitful scales are in his hand; He loves to oppress.
7 But no, the people are like crafty merchants selling from dishonest scales- they love to cheat.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Hosea 12:7
Commentary on Hosea 12:7-14
(Read Hosea 12:7-14)
Ephraim became a merchant: the word also signifies a Canaanite. They carried on trade upon Canaanitish principles, covetously and with fraud and deceit. Thus they became rich, and falsely supposed that Providence favoured them. But shameful sins shall have shameful punishments. Let them remember, not only what a mighty prince Jacob was with God, but what a servant he was to Laban. The benefits we have had from the word of God, make our sin and folly the worse, if we put any slight upon that word. We had better follow the hardest labour in poverty, than grow rich by sin. We may form a judgment of our own conduct, by comparing it with that of ancient believers in the like circumstances. Whoever despises the message of God, will perish. May we all hear his word with humble, obedient faith.