Hosea 11

1 When Israel was a child he was dear to me; and I took my son out of Egypt.

When Israel was young, then I began to love him, and out of Egypt I called my son.

2 When I sent for them, then they went away from me; they made offerings to the Baals, burning perfumes to images.

The more I called them, the further they went away from me. They kept sacrificing to Baals and making offerings to idols.

3 But I was guiding Ephraim's footsteps; I took them up in my arms, but they were not conscious that I was ready to make them well.

Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them up in my arms, but they did not know that I healed them.

4 I made them come after me with the cords of a man, with the bands of love; I was to them as one who took the yoke from off their mouths, putting meat before them.

With humane cords I ever drew them, with bands of love. I was to them as one who lifts up the yoke from off their jaws, and bending toward them, I gave them food to eat.

5 He will go back to the land of Egypt and the Assyrian will be his king, because they would not come back to me.

No! They return to the land of Egypt, Assyria will be their king, for they have refused to return to me.

6 And the sword will go through his towns, wasting his children and causing destruction because of their evil designs.

Therefore the swords will whirl in their cities, will devour in their fortresses.

7 My people are given up to sinning against me; though their voice goes up on high, no one will be lifting them up.

For my people are bent in rebellion against me, even if they call on the Most High he will not raise them.

8 How may I give you up, O Ephraim? how may I be your saviour, O Israel? how may I make you like Admah? how may I do to you as I did to Zeboim? My heart is turned in me, it is soft with pity.

How can I give you up, Ephraim! Give you over, Israel! How am I to give you up as Admah! Make you like Zeboim! My heart asserts itself, my sympathies are all aglow.

9 I will not put into effect the heat of my wrath; I will not again send destruction on Ephraim; for I am God and not man, the Holy One among you; I will not put an end to you.

I will not carry into effect the fierceness of my anger, I will not turn to destroy Ephraim, for God am I, and not man, holy in the midst of you, therefore I will not consume.

10 They will go after the Lord; his cry will be like that of a lion; his cry will be loud, and the children will come from the west, shaking with fear;

They will follow after the Lord. Like a lion he will roar, and when he roars his children will come trembling from the west.

11 Shaking with fear like a bird, they will come out of Egypt, like a dove out of the land of Assyria: and I will give them rest in their houses, says the Lord.

They will come trembling like the birds from Egypt, like doves from the land of Assyria. And I will bring them back to their houses, – declares the Lord.

12 The deceit of Ephraim and the false words of Israel are about me on every side. ...

Ephraim has encompassed me with falsehood, and the house of Israel with deceit. But Judah still wanders with God faithful to the Holy One.