Hosea 11

1 When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called My son.

As the morning passeth, so hath the king of Israel Israel was a child, and I loved him: and I called my son out of Egypt.

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 they called them, they went away from before their face: they offered victims to Baalim, and sacrificed to idols.

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.

And I was like a foster father to Ephraim, I carried them in my arms: and 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.

I will draw them with the cords of Adam, with the bands of love: and I will be to them as one that taketh off the yoke on their jaws: and I put his meat to him that he might eat.

5 Will they not return to the land of Egypt and be ruled by Assyria because they refused to repent?

He shall not return into the land of Egypt, but the Assyrian shall be his king: because they would not be converted.

6 A sword will flash through their cities; it will destroy the bars of their gates and consume them in their own plans.

The sword hath begun in his cities, and it shall consume his chosen men, and shall devour their heads.

7 My people are bent on turning from Me. Though they call to the Most High, He will by no means exalt them.

And my people shall long for my return: but a yoke shall be put upon them together, which shall not be taken off.

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, O Ephraim, shall I protect thee, O Israel? how shall I make thee as Adama, shall I set thee as Seboim? my heart is turned within me, my repentance is stirred up.

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 execute the fierceness of my wrath: I will not return to destroy Ephraim: because I am God, and not man: the holy one in the midst of 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.

They shall walk after the Lord, he shall roar as a lion: because he shall roar, and the children of the sea shall fear.

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.

And they shall fly away like a bird out of Egypt, and like a dove out of the land of the Assyrians: and I will place them in their own 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 hath compassed me about with denials, and the house of Israel with deceit: but Juda went down as a witness with God, and is faithful with the saints.