< Hosea 11 >
1 Just as the morning passes, so has the king of Israel passed by. For Israel was a child and I loved him; and out of Egypt I called my son.
以色列年幼的時候,我愛他, 就從埃及召出我的兒子來。
2 They called them, and so they departed before their face. They offered victims to the Baals, and they sacrificed to graven images.
先知越發招呼他們, 他們越發走開, 向諸巴力獻祭, 給雕刻的偶像燒香。
3 And I was like a foster father to Ephraim. I carried them in my arms. And they did not know that I healed them.
我原教導以法蓮行走, 用膀臂抱着他們, 他們卻不知道是我醫治他們。
4 I will draw them with the cords of Adam, with the bands of love. And I will be to them like one who raises the yoke over their jaws. And I will reach down to him so that he may eat.
我用慈繩愛索牽引他們; 我待他們如人放鬆牛的兩腮夾板, 把糧食放在他們面前。
5 He will not return to the land of Egypt, but Assur himself will be the king over him, because they were not willing to be converted.
他們必不歸回埃及地, 亞述人卻要作他們的王, 因他們不肯歸向我。
6 The sword has begun in his cities, and it will consume his elect and devour their heads.
刀劍必臨到他們的城邑, 毀壞門閂,把人吞滅, 都因他們隨從自己的計謀。
7 And my people will long for my return. But a yoke will be imposed on them together, which will not be taken away.
我的民偏要背道離開我; 眾先知雖然招呼他們歸向至上的主, 卻無人尊崇主。
8 How will I provide for you, Ephraim; how will I protect you, Israel? How will I provide for you as for Adam; will I set you like Zeboiim? My heart has changed within me; together with my regret, it has been stirred up.
以法蓮哪,我怎能捨棄你? 以色列啊,我怎能棄絕你? 我怎能使你如押瑪? 怎能使你如洗扁? 我回心轉意, 我的憐愛大大發動。
9 I will not act on the fury of my wrath. I will not turn back to utterly destroy Ephraim. For I am God, and not man, the Divine in your midst, and I will not advance upon the city.
我必不發猛烈的怒氣, 也不再毀滅以法蓮。 因我是上帝,並非世人, 是你們中間的聖者; 我必不在怒中臨到你們。
10 They will walk after the Lord; he will roar like a lion. For he himself will roar, and the sons of the sea will dread.
耶和華必如獅子吼叫, 子民必跟隨他。 他一吼叫, 他們就從西方急速而來。
11 And they will fly like a bird out of Egypt, and like a dove from the land of the Assyrians. And I will arrange them in their own houses, says the Lord.
他們必如雀鳥從埃及急速而來, 又如鴿子從亞述地來到。 我必使他們住自己的房屋。 這是耶和華說的。
12 Ephraim has besieged me with denials, and the house of Israel with deceit. But Judah went down as a witness before God and the holy ones of faith.
以法蓮用謊話, 以色列家用詭計圍繞我; 猶大卻靠上帝掌權, 向聖者有忠心。