Hosea 11
1 When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called My son.
Early in the morning were they cast off, the king of Israel has been cast off: for Israel is a child, and I loved him, and out of Egypt have I called his children.
2 But the more I called Israel, the farther they departed from Me. They sacrificed to the Baals and burned incense to carved images.
As I called them, so they departed from my presence: they sacrificed to Baalim, and burnt incense to graven images.
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.
Yet I bound the feet of Ephraim, I took him on my arm; but they knew not that I healed them.
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.
When men were destroyed, I drew them with the bands of my love: and I will be to them as a man smiting [another] on his cheek: and I will have respect to him, I will prevail with him.
5 Will they not return to the land of Egypt and be ruled by Assyria because they refused to repent?
Ephraim dwelt in Egypt; and [as for] the Assyrian, he was his king, because he would not return.
6 A sword will flash through their cities; it will destroy the bars of their gates and consume them in their own plans.
And in his cities he prevailed not with the sword, and he ceased [to war] with his hands: and they shall eat [of the fruit] of their own devices:
7 My people are bent on turning from Me. Though they call to the Most High, He will by no means exalt them.
and his people [shall] cleave fondly to their habitation; but God shall be angry with his precious things, and shall not at all exalt him.
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!
How shall I deal with thee, Ephraim? [how] shall I protect thee, Israel? what shall I do with thee? I will make thee as Adama, and as Seboim; my heart is turned at once, my repentance is powerfully excited.
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.
I will not act according to the fury of my wrath, I will not abandon Ephraim to be utterly destroyed: for I am God, and not man; the Holy One within thee: and I will not enter into the city.
10 They will walk after the LORD; He will roar like a lion. When He roars, His children will come trembling from the west.
I will go after the Lord: he shall utter [his voice] as a lion: for he shall roar, and the children of the waters shall be amazed.
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.
They shall be amazed [and fly] as a bird out of Egypt, and as a dove out of the land of the Assyrians: and I will restore them to their houses, saith the Lord.
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.
Ephraim has compassed me with falsehood, and the house of Israel and Juda with ungodliness: [but] now God knows them, and they shall be called God's holy people.
