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God’s Love for Israel

11 When Israel was a child, I loved him,
    and out of Egypt I called My son.
As I[a] called them,
    so they went from Me.[b]
They sacrificed to the Baals
    and burned incense to idols.
I taught Ephraim to walk,
    taking them up in My[c] arms,
but they did not know
    that I healed them.
I drew them with cords of human kindness,[d]
    with bands of love.
I was to them as those who ease the yoke on their neck,[e]
    and I bent down and fed them.

He will return[f] to the land of Egypt,
    and Assyria will be his king,
    because they refused to return to Me.
The sword slashes in their cities,
    consumes their oracle-priests,
    and devours because of their own counsels.
My people are bent on backsliding from Me.
    Though they called to the Most High,
    none at all exalt Him.

How can I give you up, Ephraim?
    How can I hand you over, Israel?
How can I make you like Admah?
    How can I treat you like Zeboyim?
My heart churns within Me;
    My compassion is stirred.
I will not execute the fierceness of My anger;
    I will not again destroy Ephraim.
For I am God, and not man,
    the Holy One in your midst,
    and I will not come in wrath.
10 They will walk after the Lord,
    who roars like a lion.
When He roars,
    His children will come trembling from the west.
11 They will come trembling
    like a bird out of Egypt
    and like a dove from the land of Assyria.
And I will let them dwell in their houses,
    says the Lord.

God’s Charge Against Ephraim

12 Ephraim has surrounded Me with lies,
    and the house of Israel with deceit.
But Judah still walks with God,
    and is faithful to the Holy One.[g]

Footnotes

  1. Hosea 11:2 Gk.; Heb. they.
  2. Hosea 11:2 Gk.; Heb. them.
  3. Hosea 11:3 Gk. Syr. Vulg.; Heb. his.
  4. Hosea 11:4 Heb. cords of a man.
  5. Hosea 11:4 Or jaws.
  6. Hosea 11:5 So LXX. Heb. He not will return.
  7. Hosea 11:12 Or holy ones.

God Will Have Compassion

11 When Israel was a child, I loved him,
and out of Egypt I called my son.
When I called[a] them, they went from my face.[b]
    They sacrificed to the Baals, and they sacrificed to idols.
And I myself taught Ephraim to walk;
    I took them[c] in my[d] arms,
but they did not know that I healed them.
I drew them with human ties,[e]
    with the bands of love.
I was to them like one who lifted up[f] a yoke on their jaws,[g]
    though I bent down to them[h] and let them[i] eat.
He will return[j] to the land of Egypt,
    and Assyria will be his king,[k]
    because they refused to return.
The sword rages in his cities;
    it consumes his false prophets
and devours because of their plans.
    My people are bent on backsliding from me.
To the Most High they call,
    he does not raise them at all.
How can I give you up, O Ephraim?
    How can I hand you over, O Israel?
How can I make you like Admah?
    How can I treat you like Zeboiim?
My heart is disturbed[l] within me;
    all[m] my compassions are aroused.
I will not execute[n] my fierce anger,[o]
    I will not again destroy Ephraim;
because I am God
    and not a mortal,[p]
    the Holy One in your midst;
and I will not come in wrath.
10     They will go after Yahweh;
        he roars like a lion.
When he roars,
    his children will come trembling
        from the sea.[q]
11 They will tremble like birds[r] from Egypt,
    and like doves[s] from the land of Assyria;
and I will let them return[t] to their homes—
    a declaration of Yahweh.

Israel’s History

12 [u] Ephraim has surrounded me with lies,[v]
and the house of Israel with deceit;
and Judah is still wandering with God
    and is faithful to the Holy One.

Footnotes

  1. Hosea 11:2 Hebrew “When they called”; the LXX and modern translations read “When I called”
  2. Hosea 11:2 Hebrew “their face”
  3. Hosea 11:3 Hebrew uncertain
  4. Hosea 11:3 Hebrew “his”
  5. Hosea 11:4 Literally “ropes of a human”
  6. Hosea 11:4 Or “like one who imposed”
  7. Hosea 11:4 Or “infants to their cheeks”
  8. Hosea 11:4 Hebrew “him”
  9. Hosea 11:4 Hebrew “him”
  10. Hosea 11:5 Or “They will not return”
  11. Hosea 11:5 That is “Israel’s king”
  12. Hosea 11:8 Or “My heart is overturned”
  13. Hosea 11:8 Literally “together”
  14. Hosea 11:9 Literally “I will not do”
  15. Hosea 11:9 Literally “the anger of my nose”
  16. Hosea 11:9 Or “human”
  17. Hosea 11:10 That is, “the West”
  18. Hosea 11:11 Hebrew “bird”
  19. Hosea 11:11 Hebrew “dove”
  20. Hosea 11:11 Hebrew “I will cause them to live”
  21. Hosea 11:12 Hosea 11:12–12:14 in the English Bible is 12:1–15 in the Hebrew Bible
  22. Hosea 11:12 Hebrew “lie”