Hosea 11

1 “Because Israel [is] a youth, and I love him, Out of Egypt I have called for My Son.

When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called My son.

2 They have called to them correctly, They have gone from before them, They sacrifice to lords, And make incense to carved images.

But the more I called Israel, the farther they departed from Me. They sacrificed to the Baals and burned incense to carved images.

3 And I have caused Ephraim to go on foot, Taking them by their arms, And they have not known that I strengthened them.

It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them in My arms, but they never realized that it was I who healed them.

4 I draw them with cords of man, With thick cords of love, And I am to them as a raiser up of a yoke on their jaws, And I incline to him—I feed [him].

I led them with cords of kindness, with ropes of love; I lifted the yoke from their necks and bent down to feed them.

5 He does not return to the land of Egypt, And Asshur—he [is] his king, For they have refused to return.

Will they not return to the land of Egypt and be ruled by Assyria because they refused to repent?

6 The sword has been grievous in his cities, And it has ended his bars, and consumed—from their own counsels.

A sword will flash through their cities; it will destroy the bars of their gates and consume them in their own plans.

7 And My people are hanging in suspense about My returning, And to the Most High they call, Together they do not exalt.

My people are bent on turning from Me. Though they call to the Most High, He will by no means exalt them.

8 How do I give you up, O Ephraim? Do I deliver you up, O Israel? How do I make you as Admah? Do I set you as Zeboim? My heart is turned in Me, My sympathy has been kindled together.

How could I give you up, O Ephraim? How could I surrender you, O Israel? How could I make you like Admah? How could I treat you like Zeboiim? My heart is turned within Me; My compassion is stirred!

9 I do not do the fierceness of My anger, I do not turn back to destroy Ephraim, For I [am] God, and not a man—The Holy One in your midst, and I do not enter in enmity.

I will not execute the full fury of My anger; I will not turn back to destroy Ephraim. For I am God and not man— the Holy One among you— and I will not come in wrath.

10 They go after YHWH—He roars as a lion, When He roars, then the sons from the west tremble.

They will walk after the LORD; He will roar like a lion. When He roars, His children will come trembling from the west.

11 They tremble as a sparrow out of Egypt, And as a dove out of the land of Asshur, And I have caused them to dwell in their own houses,” A declaration of YHWH.

They will come trembling like birds from Egypt and like doves from the land of Assyria. Then I will settle them in their homes, declares the LORD.

12 “Ephraim has surrounded Me with feigning, And the house of Israel with deceit. And Judah is again ruling with God, And [is] faithful with the Holy Ones!”

Ephraim surrounds Me with lies, the house of Israel with deceit; but Judah still walks with God and is faithful to the Holy One.