Hosea 11

1 “When Israel was a young man I loved him, and I called my son out of Egypt.

Just as the morning passes, so has the king of Israel passed by. For Israel was a child and I loved him; and out of Egypt I called my son.

2 The more they were called, the more they went away from me. They sacrificed to the Baals and burned incense to idols.

They called them, and so they departed before their face. They offered victims to the Baals, and they sacrificed to graven images.

3 Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk. It was I who lifted them up by their arms, but they did not know that I cared for them.

And I was like a foster father to Ephraim. I carried them in my arms. And they did not know that I healed them.

4 I led them with cords of humanity, with bands of love. I was to them like someone who eased the yoke on their jaws, and I bent down to them and fed them.

I will draw them with the cords of Adam, with the bands of love. And I will be to them like one who raises the yoke over their jaws. And I will reach down to him so that he may eat.

5 Will they not return to the land of Egypt? Will Assyria not rule over them because they refuse to return to me?

He will not return to the land of Egypt, but Assur himself will be the king over him, because they were not willing to be converted.

6 The sword will fall on their cities and destroy the bars of their gates; it will destroy them because of their own plans.

The sword has begun in his cities, and it will consume his elect and devour their heads.

7 My people are determined to turn away from me. Though they call to the Most High, no one will help them.

And my people will long for my return. But a yoke will be imposed on them together, which will not be taken away.

8 How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I make you like Zeboyim? My heart has changed within me; all my compassions have been stirred up.

How will I provide for you, Ephraim; how will I protect you, Israel? How will I provide for you as for Adam; will I set you like Zeboiim? My heart has changed within me; together with my regret, it has been stirred up.

9 I will not execute my fierce anger; I will not again destroy Ephraim. For I am God and not a man; I am the Holy One among you, and I will not come in wrath.

I will not act on the fury of my wrath. I will not turn back to utterly destroy Ephraim. For I am God, and not man, the Divine in your midst, and I will not advance upon the city.

10 They will follow Yahweh; and he will roar like a lion. When he roars, his children will come trembling from the west.

They will walk after the Lord; he will roar like a lion. For he himself will roar, and the sons of the sea will dread.

11 They will come trembling like a bird from Egypt, like a dove from the land of Assyria. I will make them live in their homes—this is the declaration of Yahweh.

And they will fly like a bird out of Egypt, and like a dove from the land of the Assyrians. And I will arrange them in their own houses, says the Lord.

12 Ephraim surrounds me with falsehood, and the house of Israel with deceit. But Judah is still going about with me, God, and is faithful to me, the Holy One.”

Ephraim has besieged me with denials, and the house of Israel with deceit. But Judah went down as a witness before God and the holy ones of faith.