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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)

God’s Love for Israel

11 “When Israel was a ·child [youth], I loved him,
    and I called my son out of Egypt [C the Exodus; Ex. 4:22; Matt. 2:15].
But when I called ·the people of Israel [L them],
    they went away from me.
They offered sacrifices to the Baals
    and burned incense to ·the idols [images].
It was I who taught ·Israel [L Ephraim; 4:17] to walk,
    and I took them by the arms,
but they did not ·understand [or acknowledge]
    that I had healed them.
I led them with cords of ·human kindness [humanity; or leather],
    with ropes of love.
I lifted ·the yoke from their neck [or them like a little child to my cheek]
    and bent down and fed them.

“·The Israelites will become captives again, as they were in [or Will they not return to…? or They will not return to] Egypt,
    and ·Assyria will [or will not Assyria…?] become their king,
    because they refuse to turn back to God.
·War will sweep through [L A sword will slash/flash in] their cities
    and will destroy ·them [their gates; or their priests]
    and ·kill [devour] them because of their ·wicked plans [counsels].
My people ·have made up their minds [are determined]
    to ·turn away [desert; backslide] from me.
·The prophets call them to turn to me [or They call me Most High; or They call to Baal],
    but ·none of them honors me at all [or I will not exalt them; or he will never exalt them].
“·Israel [L Ephraim; 4:17], how can I give you up?
    How can I ·give you away [hand you over], Israel?
·I don’t want to [L How can I…?] make you like Admah
    or treat you like Zeboiim [C two cities destroyed together with Sodom and Gomorrah; Gen. 19:24–25; Deut. 4:25–31].
My heart ·beats for you [or has changed within me; or is torn within me],
    and my ·love for you stirs up my pity [compassion is aroused/stirred up/kindled].
I won’t ·punish you in my [unleash my burning] anger,
    and I won’t destroy ·Israel [L Ephraim; 4:17] again.
I am God and not a human;
    I am the Holy One, and I am among you.
    I will not come against ·you in anger [you with terror; or your cities].
10 They will ·go after [follow] the Lord,
    and he will roar like a lion.
When he roars,
    his children will ·hurry [L come trembling] to him from the west [C God’s people would return not only from Babylon and Assyria in the east but from every direction].
11 They will come ·swiftly [or trembling]
    like birds from Egypt
    and like doves from Assyria.
I will settle them again in their homes,”
    says the Lord.

The Lord Is Against Israel

12 ·Israel [L Ephraim; 4:17] has surrounded me with lies;
    the ·people have made [L house of Israel with] evil plans.
·And [or But] Judah ·turns against [or roams away from; or still walks with] God,
    ·the faithful [or and is faithful to the] Holy One.

God’s Love for Israel

11 “When Israel was a child,(A) I loved(B) him,
    and out of Egypt I called my son.(C)
But the more they were called,
    the more they went away from me.[a](D)
They sacrificed to the Baals(E)
    and they burned incense to images.(F)
It was I who taught Ephraim to walk,
    taking them by the arms;(G)
but they did not realize
    it was I who healed(H) them.
I led them with cords of human kindness,
    with ties of love.(I)
To them I was like one who lifts
    a little child to the cheek,
    and I bent down to feed(J) them.(K)

“Will they not return to Egypt(L)
    and will not Assyria(M) rule over them
    because they refuse to repent?(N)
A sword(O) will flash in their cities;
    it will devour(P) their false prophets
    and put an end to their plans.
My people are determined to turn(Q) from me.(R)
    Even though they call me God Most High,
    I will by no means exalt them.

“How can I give you up,(S) Ephraim?(T)
    How can I hand you over, Israel?
How can I treat you like Admah?
    How can I make you like Zeboyim?(U)
My heart is changed within me;
    all my compassion(V) is aroused.(W)
I will not carry out my fierce anger,(X)
    nor will I devastate(Y) Ephraim again.
For I am God, and not a man(Z)
    the Holy One(AA) among you.
    I will not come against their cities.
10 They will follow the Lord;
    he will roar(AB) like a lion.(AC)
When he roars,
    his children will come trembling(AD) from the west.(AE)
11 They will come from Egypt,
    trembling like sparrows,
    from Assyria,(AF) fluttering like doves.(AG)
I will settle them in their homes,”(AH)
    declares the Lord.

Israel’s Sin

12 Ephraim has surrounded me with lies,(AI)
    Israel with deceit.
And Judah is unruly against God,
    even against the faithful(AJ) Holy One.[b](AK)

Footnotes

  1. Hosea 11:2 Septuagint; Hebrew them
  2. Hosea 11:12 In Hebrew texts this verse (11:12) is numbered 12:1.