Hosea 11

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

When Israel was young, then I began to love 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.

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

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

No! They return to the land of Egypt, Assyria will be their king, for they have refused to return to me.

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

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

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

For my people are bent in rebellion against me, even if they call on the Most High he will not raise 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 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 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 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 go after YHWH—He roars as a lion, When He roars, then the sons from the west tremble.

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