耶和華對以色列的愛

11 耶和華說:
「以色列年幼時,我就愛他,
視他為兒子,把他從埃及召出來。
可是,我越召喚他們,他們就跑得越遠,
給巴力獻祭,向偶像燒香。
是我教以法蓮學步,張開雙臂抱他們,
他們卻不知道是我醫治他們。
我用慈繩愛索牽引他們,
解開他們所負的重軛,
彎腰餵養他們。

「他們要返回埃及,
亞述要統治他們,
因為他們不肯歸向我。
刀劍之災要臨到他們的城邑,
毀壞他們的城門,將他們吞噬,
因為他們倚仗自己的計謀。
我的子民執意離我而去,
他們雖然求告至高的我,
我也不會拯救他們。
以法蓮啊,我怎能捨棄你?
以色列啊,我怎能棄絕你?
我怎能使你的下場如押瑪?
我怎能對待你如對待洗扁?
我的心意改變,我滿懷憐愛。
我不再發烈怒,
也不再毀滅以法蓮。
因為我是上帝,不是世人,
是住在你們中間的聖者,
我必不帶著烈怒來臨。

10 「以色列子民必跟隨耶和華,
祂要像獅子一樣吼叫。
祂吼叫的時候,
他們要戰戰兢兢地從西方來。
11 他們必戰戰兢兢地來,
就像從埃及趕來的鳥兒,
像從亞述飛來的鴿子。
我要帶他們返回家園。
這是耶和華說的。」

對以色列和猶大的指控

12 耶和華說:
「以法蓮用謊話包圍我,
以色列家用詭詐環繞我;
猶大依然背離聖潔、信實的上帝[a]

Footnotes

  1. 11·12 猶大依然背離聖潔、信實的上帝」或譯為「猶大卻與上帝同行,忠於聖者」。

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.

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

God Loves Israel

11 The Lord continues,

“When Israel was a young nation, I loved them.
    I chose to bring my son out of Egypt.
But the more I called out to Israel,
    the more they went away from me.
They brought sacrifices to the statues of the gods
    that were named Baal.
    And they burned incense to them.
I taught Ephraim to walk.
    I took them up in my arms.
But they did not realize
    I was the one who took care of them.
I led them with kindness and love.
I was to them like a person who lifts
    a little child to their cheek.
    I bent down and fed them.

“But they refuse to turn away from their sins.
    So they will return to Egypt.
    And Assyria will rule over them.
A sword will flash in their cities.
    It will destroy the prophets who teach lies.
    It will bring an end to their plans.
My people have made up their minds
    to turn away from me.
Even if they call me the Most High God,
    I will certainly not honor them.”

The Lord continues,

“People of Ephraim, how can I give you up?
    Israel, how can I hand you over to your enemies?
Can I destroy you as I did the town of Admah?
    Can I treat you like Zeboyim?
My heart is stirred inside me.
    It is filled with pity for you.
I will not be so angry with you anymore.
    I will not completely destroy you again.
After all, I am God.
    I am not a mere man.
I am the Holy One among you.
    I will not direct my anger against their cities.
10 I will roar like a lion against my enemies.
    Then the Lord’s people will follow him.
When he roars, his children will come home trembling with fear.
    They will return from the west.
11 They will come from Egypt, trembling like sparrows.
    They will return from Assyria, flying in like doves.
I will settle you again in your homes,”
    announces the Lord.

Israel Has Sinned

12 The people of Ephraim tell me nothing but lies.
    Israel has not been honest with me.
And Judah continues to wander away from God.
    They have deserted the faithful Holy One.