Hosea 11

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

“When Israel was a young man 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.

The more they were called, the more they went away from me. They sacrificed to the Baals and burned incense 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.

Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk. It was I who lifted them up by their arms, but they did not know that I cared for 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 led them with cords of humanity, with bands of love. I was to them like someone who eased the yoke on their jaws, and I bent down to them and fed them.

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

Will they not return to the land of Egypt? Will Assyria not rule over them because they refuse to return to me?

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 will fall on their cities and destroy the bars of their gates; it will destroy them because of their own plans.

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

My people are determined to turn away from me. Though they call to the Most High, no one will help them.

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 can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I make you like Zeboyim? My heart has changed within me; all my compassions have been 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 my fierce anger; I will not again destroy Ephraim. For I am God and not a man; I am the Holy One among you, and I will not come in wrath.

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 will follow Yahweh; and he will roar like a lion. When he roars, his children will come trembling 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 will come trembling like a bird from Egypt, like a dove from the land of Assyria. I will make them live in their homes—this is the declaration of Yahweh.

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 surrounds me with falsehood, and the house of Israel with deceit. But Judah is still going about with me, God, and is faithful to me, the Holy One.”