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.

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

2 They called them, and so they departed before their face. They offered victims to the Baals, and they sacrificed to graven images.

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

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.

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 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.

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 not return to the land of Egypt, but Assur himself will be the king over him, because they were not willing to be converted.

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

6 The sword has begun in his cities, and it will consume his elect and devour their heads.

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

7 And my people will long for my return. But a yoke will be imposed on them together, which will not be taken away.

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

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.

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 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.

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 walk after the Lord; he will roar like a lion. For he himself will roar, and the sons of the sea will dread.

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 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.

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 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.

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