Hosea 11

1 As the morning passeth, so hath the king of Israel Israel was a child, and I loved him: and I called my son out of Egypt.

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

2 As they called them, they went away from before their face: they offered victims to Baalim, and sacrificed to idols.

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 knew not 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 as one that taketh off the yoke on their jaws: and I put his meat to him that he might 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 shall not return into the land of Egypt, but the Assyrian shall be his king: because they would not 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 hath begun in his cities, and it shall consume his chosen men, and shall devour their heads.

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

7 And my people shall long for my return: but a yoke shall be put upon them together, which shall not be taken off.

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

8 How shall I deal with thee, O Ephraim, shall I protect thee, O Israel? how shall I make thee as Adama, shall I set thee as Seboim? my heart is turned within me, my repentance is 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 execute the fierceness of my wrath: I will not return to destroy Ephraim: because I am God, and not man: the holy one in the midst of thee, and I will not enter into 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 shall walk after the Lord, he shall roar as a lion: because he shall roar, and the children of the sea shall 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 And they shall fly away like a bird out of Egypt, and like a dove out of the land of the Assyrians: and I will place them in their own houses, saith 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 hath compassed me about with denials, and the house of Israel with deceit: but Juda went down as a witness with God, and is faithful with the saints.

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