耶和华对以色列的爱

11 耶和华说:
“以色列年幼时,我就爱他,
视他为儿子,把他从埃及召出来。
可是,我越召唤他们,他们就跑得越远,
给巴力献祭,向偶像烧香。
是我教以法莲学步,张开双臂抱他们,
他们却不知道是我医治他们。
我用慈绳爱索牵引他们,
解开他们所负的重轭,
弯腰喂养他们。

“他们要返回埃及,
亚述要统治他们,
因为他们不肯归向我。
刀剑之灾要临到他们的城邑,
毁坏他们的城门,将他们吞噬,
因为他们倚仗自己的计谋。
我的子民执意离我而去,
他们虽然求告至高的我,
我也不会拯救他们。
以法莲啊,我怎能舍弃你?
以色列啊,我怎能弃绝你?
我怎能使你的下场如押玛?
我怎能对待你如对待洗扁?
我的心意改变,我满怀怜爱。
我不再发烈怒,
也不再毁灭以法莲。
因为我是上帝,不是世人,
是住在你们中间的圣者,
我必不带着烈怒来临。

10 “以色列子民必跟随耶和华,
祂要像狮子一样吼叫。
祂吼叫的时候,
他们要战战兢兢地从西方来。
11 他们必战战兢兢地来,
就像从埃及赶来的鸟儿,
像从亚述飞来的鸽子。
我要带他们返回家园。
这是耶和华说的。”

对以色列和犹大的指控

12 耶和华说:
“以法莲用谎话包围我,
以色列家用诡诈环绕我;
犹大依然背离圣洁、信实的上帝[a]

Footnotes

  1. 11:12 犹大依然背离圣洁、信实的上帝”或译为“犹大却与上帝同行,忠于圣者”。

以色列忘恩负义

11 “以色列年幼的时候,我就爱他。

我从埃及召我的儿子出来。

可是我越发呼唤他们,

他们越发走开;

他们给巴力献祭,

向偶像烧香。

然而是我教导以法莲走路的;

我用双臂抱他们,

他们却不知道是我医治了他们。

我用慈绳爱索(“慈绳爱索”原文意思不易肯定,或作“人的绳子、爱的绳索”或“皮制的绳索”)牵引他们,

我待他们像人拉高牛的轭在两颚之上,

又向他们俯身,喂养他们。

必遭重罚

“他们必返回埃及地(“他们必返回埃及地”或译:“难道他们不会返回埃及地吗?”),

亚述要作他们的王;

因为他们不肯回来归我。

刀剑必在他们的城中飞舞,

毁坏他们的门闩,

因着他们自己的计谋,吞灭他们。

我的子民决要背道离开我,

他们因着所负的轭而呼求,

却没有人给他们卸下。

 神再施怜爱

“以法莲啊,我怎能舍弃你!

以色列啊,我怎能把你交出来!

我怎能对你如同押玛,

待你好象洗扁呢!

我的心肠翻转,

我的怜悯发动。

我必不让我的烈怒发作,

必不再毁灭以法莲;

因为我是 神,不是世人;我是你们中间的圣者,

必不会含怒而来。

10 他们必跟随耶和华;

耶和华要像狮子吼叫;

他一吼叫,

他们就从西方战战兢兢而来。

11 他们必战战兢兢而来,像从埃及赶来的飞鸟,

如从亚述地赶来的鸽子,

我要使他们住在自己的房子里。这是耶和华说的。

12 以法莲用虚谎,

以色列家用诡诈包围着我;

犹大还是与 神对抗,

就是对抗那可信可靠的至圣者。”(本节在《马索拉文本》为12:1)

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

As they called them, so they went from them: they sacrificed unto Baalim, and burned incense to graven images.

I taught Ephraim also to go, taking them by their arms; but they knew not that I healed them.

I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love: and I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws, and I laid meat unto them.

He shall not return into the land of Egypt, and the Assyrian shall be his king, because they refused to return.

And the sword shall abide on his cities, and shall consume his branches, and devour them, because of their own counsels.

And my people are bent to backsliding from me: though they called them to the most High, none at all would exalt him.

How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? how shall I deliver thee, Israel? how shall I make thee as Admah? how shall I set thee as Zeboim? mine heart is turned within me, my repentings are kindled together.

I will not execute the fierceness of mine anger, I will not return to destroy Ephraim: for I am God, and not man; the Holy One in the midst of thee: and I will not enter into the city.

10 They shall walk after the Lord: he shall roar like a lion: when he shall roar, then the children shall tremble from the west.

11 They shall tremble as a bird out of Egypt, and as a dove out of the land of Assyria: and I will place them in their houses, saith the Lord.

12 Ephraim compasseth me about with lies, and the house of Israel with deceit: but Judah yet ruleth with God, and is faithful with the saints.

God’s Continuing Love for Israel

11 “When Israel was a [a]child, I loved him,
And out of Egypt (A)I called My (B)son.
[b]As they called them,
So they (C)went [c]from them;
They sacrificed to the Baals,
And burned incense to carved images.

“I(D) taught Ephraim to walk,
Taking them by [d]their arms;
But they did not know that (E)I healed them.
I drew them with [e]gentle cords,
With bands of love,
And (F)I was to them as those who take the yoke from their [f]neck.
(G)I stooped and fed them.

“He shall not return to the land of Egypt;
But the Assyrian shall be his king,
Because they refused to repent.
And the sword shall slash in his cities,
Devour his districts,
And consume them,
Because of their own counsels.
My people are bent on (H)backsliding from Me.
Though [g]they call [h]to the Most High,
None at all exalt Him.

“How(I) can I give you up, Ephraim?
How can I hand you over, Israel?
How can I make you like (J)Admah?
How can I set you like Zeboiim?
My heart [i]churns within Me;
My sympathy is stirred.
I will not execute the fierceness of My anger;
I will not again destroy Ephraim.
(K)For I am God, and not man,
The Holy One in your midst;
And I will not [j]come with terror.

10 “They shall walk after the Lord.
(L)He will roar like a lion.
When He roars,
Then His sons shall come trembling from the west;
11 They shall come trembling like a bird from Egypt,
(M)Like a dove from the land of Assyria.
(N)And I will let them dwell in their houses,”
Says the Lord.

God’s Charge Against Ephraim

12 “Ephraim has encircled Me with lies,
And the house of Israel with deceit;
But Judah still walks with God,
Even with the [k]Holy One who is faithful.

Footnotes

  1. Hosea 11:1 Or youth
  2. Hosea 11:2 So with MT, Vg.; LXX Just as I called them; Tg. interprets as I sent prophets to a thousand of them.
  3. Hosea 11:2 So with MT, Tg., Vg.; LXX from My face
  4. Hosea 11:3 Some Heb. mss., LXX, Syr., Vg. My arms
  5. Hosea 11:4 Lit. cords of a man
  6. Hosea 11:4 Lit. jaws
  7. Hosea 11:7 The prophets
  8. Hosea 11:7 Or upward
  9. Hosea 11:8 Lit. turns over
  10. Hosea 11:9 Or enter a city
  11. Hosea 11:12 Or holy ones