Hosea 11

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

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

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

3 And I have caused Ephraim to go on foot, Taking them by their arms, And they have not known that I strengthened 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 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 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 He does not return to the land of Egypt, And Asshur—he [is] his king, For they have refused to return.

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

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

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

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

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

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 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.

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 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 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.