Osee 11

1 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.

當以色列尚在童年時，我就愛了他；從在埃及時，我就召他為我的兒子。

2 As I called them, so they departed from my presence: they sacrificed to Baalim, and burnt incense to graven images.

可是我越呼喚他們，他們越遠離我，去給巴耳獻祭，向偶像進香。

3 Yet I bound the feet of Ephraim, I took him on my arm; but they knew not that I healed them.

是我教了厄弗辣因邁步，雙臂抱了他們，但他們卻不理會是我照顧了他們。

4 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.

是我用仁慈的繩索，用愛情的帶子牽著他們，對他們有如高舉嬰兒到自己面頰的慈親，俯身喂養他們。

5 Ephraim dwelt in Egypt; and [as for] the Assyrian, he was his king, because he would not return.

他們卻要返回埃及埃及，要亞述作他們的君王，因為他們拒絕歸依我。

6 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:

刀劍必要在他們的城中橫行，殺絕他們的子女，在他們的堡壘中吞噬他們。

7 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.

我的百姓因著自己的叛逆使我厭煩了；為此上主給他們指定了應負的重軛，因為衪已不再憐惜他們。

8 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.

厄弗辣因! 我怎能捨棄你﹖以色列! 我怎能拋掉你。我怎能仗你如同阿德瑪，待你如同責波殷﹖我的心已轉變，我的五內已感動；

9 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.

我不再按卜憤怒行事，不再毀滅厄弗辣因，因為我是天主而不是人，是在你們中間的聖言，而不是伏於城門的仇敵。

10 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.

的確，他們必要追隨上主，衪要像獅子吼叫；衪一吼叫，衪的子女便要從西方急速歸來，猶如飛鳥由埃及急速飛來，

11 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.

猶如鴿子從亞述飛來；我要使他們安居在他們家中──上主的斷語。

12 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.

厄弗辣因用，以色列家以詭詐欺騙了我；猶大對天主也是不忠實的證人，他只知忠於迷惑他的人。