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.

“When Israel was a young man I loved him, and I called my son out of Egypt.

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

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

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

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

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

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:

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

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.

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

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.

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 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.

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 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.

They will follow Yahweh; and he will roar like a lion. When he roars, his children will come trembling from the west.

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.

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 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.

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.”