< Hosea 11 >
1 When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called My son.
以色列年幼的時候,我愛他, 就從埃及召出我的兒子來。
2 But the more I called Israel, the farther they departed from Me. They sacrificed to the Baals and burned incense to carved images.
先知越發招呼他們, 他們越發走開, 向諸巴力獻祭, 給雕刻的偶像燒香。
3 It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them in My arms, but they never realized that it was I who healed them.
我原教導以法蓮行走, 用膀臂抱着他們, 他們卻不知道是我醫治他們。
4 I led them with cords of kindness, with ropes of love; I lifted the yoke from their necks and bent down to feed them.
我用慈繩愛索牽引他們; 我待他們如人放鬆牛的兩腮夾板, 把糧食放在他們面前。
5 Will they not return to the land of Egypt and be ruled by Assyria because they refused to repent?
他們必不歸回埃及地, 亞述人卻要作他們的王, 因他們不肯歸向我。
6 A sword will flash through their cities; it will destroy the bars of their gates and consume them in their own plans.
刀劍必臨到他們的城邑, 毀壞門閂,把人吞滅, 都因他們隨從自己的計謀。
7 My people are bent on turning from Me. Though they call to the Most High, He will by no means exalt them.
我的民偏要背道離開我; 眾先知雖然招呼他們歸向至上的主, 卻無人尊崇主。
8 How could I give you up, O Ephraim? How could I surrender you, O Israel? How could I make you like Admah? How could I treat you like Zeboiim? My heart is turned within Me; My compassion is stirred!
以法蓮哪,我怎能捨棄你? 以色列啊,我怎能棄絕你? 我怎能使你如押瑪? 怎能使你如洗扁? 我回心轉意, 我的憐愛大大發動。
9 I will not execute the full fury of My anger; I will not turn back to destroy Ephraim. For I am God and not man— the Holy One among you— and I will not come in wrath.
我必不發猛烈的怒氣, 也不再毀滅以法蓮。 因我是上帝,並非世人, 是你們中間的聖者; 我必不在怒中臨到你們。
10 They will walk after the LORD; He will roar like a lion. When He roars, His children will come trembling from the west.
耶和華必如獅子吼叫, 子民必跟隨他。 他一吼叫, 他們就從西方急速而來。
11 They will come trembling like birds from Egypt and like doves from the land of Assyria. Then I will settle them in their homes, declares the LORD.
他們必如雀鳥從埃及急速而來, 又如鴿子從亞述地來到。 我必使他們住自己的房屋。 這是耶和華說的。
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.
以法蓮用謊話, 以色列家用詭計圍繞我; 猶大卻靠上帝掌權, 向聖者有忠心。