Hosea 11

1 I loved Israel when he was a child. He's my son I called out of Egypt.

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.

2 As they called them, so they went from them: they sacrificed to the Baals and offered incense to idols.

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

3 I myself taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by the hand, but they didn't realize I was the one who healed them.

And I was like a foster father to Ephraim, I carried them in my arms: and they knew not that I healed them.

4 I led them along with cords of kindness, with ropes of love. I was the one who eased their burden and bent down to feed them.

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.

5 However, because my people refuse to return to me, they will not return to the land of Egypt but Assyria shall be their king.

He shall not return into the land of Egypt, but the Assyrian shall be his king: because they would not be converted.

6 War will sweep through their cities, putting an end to their boasting and destroying their plans.

The sword hath begun in his cities, and it shall consume his chosen men, and shall devour their heads.

7 My people are hanging on to their apostasy from me. They call him “god on high” but he will not raise them up at all.

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

8 How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I let you go, Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I treat you like Zeboiim? My heart is breaking; I am full of compassion.

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.

9 I will not execute the fierceness of my anger, I will not destroy Ephraim again. For I am God, not a human being. I am the Holy One living among you. I will not enter your cities.

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.

10 The people will follow me, the Lord. He will roar like a lion. When he roars like a lion then his children will come trembling from the west.

They shall walk after the Lord, he shall roar as a lion: because he shall roar, and the children of the sea shall fear.

11 Like a flock of frightened birds they will come from Egypt, like doves they will come from Assyria, and I will bring them back home, declares the Lord.

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.

12 Ephraim surrounds me with lies and Israel with deceit, and Judah still wanders with some deity, faithful to some “Holy One.”

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.