< 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, then I loved him, —and, out of Egypt, called I 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.
They invited them, —at once, they departed from before me, they, to the Baals, sacrificed, and, to the images, offered incense.
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, I, had taught Ephraim to walk, I used to take them upon mine arms, —But they acknowledged not that I had 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 human cords, used I to draw them, with the bands of love, so became I unto them like those who remove the yoke [that was] on their jaws, —and, holding out [food] to him, I let him eat.
5 He does not return to the land of Egypt, And Asshur—he [is] his king, For they have refused to return.
He was not to turn back into the land of Egypt, Howbeit, the Assyrian—he, became his king, for they refused to turn.
6 The sword has been grievous in his cities, And it has ended his bars, and consumed—from their own counsels.
Therefore shall the sword, rage, in his cities, and make an end of his multitudes, and consume them, —because of their counsels.
7 And My people are hanging in suspense about My returning, And to the Most High they call, Together they do not exalt.
But, my people, are bent towards turning from me, though upwards they call them, none of them can lift 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 thee up, Ephraim? abandon thee Israel? How can I make thee as Admah? set thee as Zeboim? Mine own heart, turneth against me, at once, are kindled my compassions.
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 cannot execute the glow of mine anger, I cannot turn to destroy Ephraim, —for, GOD, am, I, and not man, When thou drawest near, [I am] a Holy One, though I do not enter a city.
10 They go after YHWH—He roars as a lion, When He roars, then the sons from the west tremble.
After Yahweh, let them go, Like a lion, will he roar, —When, he, shall roar, then let sons, come trembling, out of 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.
Let them come trembling like a small bird out of Egypt, and like a dove out of the land of Assyria, —so will I cause them to dwell by their own houses, Declareth Yahweh.
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!”
They have compassed me about—with denial, Ephraim, with deceit, the house of Israel, —but, Judah, hath, again and again, run riot with GOD, though, with the holy places, entrusted.