Hosea 11
1 I loved Israel when he was a child. He's my son I called 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, so they went from them: they sacrificed to the Baals and offered incense 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 I myself taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by the hand, but they didn't realize I was the one who 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 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.
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 However, because my people refuse to return to me, they will not return to the land of Egypt but Assyria shall be their king.
No! They return to the land of Egypt, Assyria will be their king, for they have refused to return to me.
6 War will sweep through their cities, putting an end to their boasting and destroying their plans.
Therefore the swords will whirl in their cities, will devour in their fortresses.
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.
For my people are bent in rebellion against me, even if they call on the Most High he will not raise them.
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 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 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 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 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 will follow after the Lord. Like a lion he will roar, and when he roars his children will come trembling from the west.
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.
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 surrounds me with lies and Israel with deceit, and Judah still wanders with some deity, faithful to some “Holy One.”
Ephraim has encompassed me with falsehood, and the house of Israel with deceit. But Judah still wanders with God faithful to the Holy One.
