Hosea 11

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

When Israel was yet young, then I loved him, and out of Egypt did I call my son.

2 But the more I called Israel, the farther they departed from Me. They sacrificed to the Baals and burned incense to carved images.

The [prophets] called them; but the more they went from them: unto the Be'alim would they sacrifice, and to the graven images would they burn incense.

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 myself appointed a leader for Ephraim, who took them up in his arms; but they would not acknowledge 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.

With human cords I ever drew them forward, with leading-strings of love: and I was to them as those that lift off the yoke from their jaws, and I held out unto them food.

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

He should not return unto the land of Egypt: yet [now] is the Assyrian his king; because they refused to repent.

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

And the sword shall fall on his cities, and shall make an end of his boughs, and consume them, because of their [evil] counsels.

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

For my people are only bent on backsliding from me; and though upward they call them, they altogether will not elevate themselves.

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 give thee up, Ephraim? how shall I surrender thee, Israel? how shall I make thee as Admah? how shall I change thee as Zeboyim? turned is my heart within me, all my compassion is enkindled together.

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 anger, I will not again destroy Ephraim; for God am I, and not man, the Holy One in the midst of thee, and I will not come with an enemy's hatred.

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 follow after the Lord, when he will roar like a lion; for he will roar, and the children shall hasten together from the west;

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 hasten together as birds out of Egypt, and as doves out of the land of Assyria: and I will cause them to dwell in 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.

With lies hath Ephraim encompassed me about, and with deceit, the house of Israel; but Judah yet ruleth with God, and is faithful to the Holy One.