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The Lord’s Love for Israel

11 “When Israel was a child, I loved him,
    and I called my son out of Egypt.
But the more I called to him,
    the farther he moved from me,[a]
offering sacrifices to the images of Baal
    and burning incense to idols.
I myself taught Israel[b] how to walk,
    leading him along by the hand.
But he doesn’t know or even care
    that it was I who took care of him.
I led Israel along
    with my ropes of kindness and love.
I lifted the yoke from his neck,
    and I myself stooped to feed him.

“But since my people refuse to return to me,
    they will return to Egypt
    and will be forced to serve Assyria.
War will swirl through their cities;
    their enemies will crash through their gates.
They will destroy them,
    trapping them in their own evil plans.
For my people are determined to desert me.
They call me the Most High,
    but they don’t truly honor me.

“Oh, how can I give you up, Israel?
    How can I let you go?
How can I destroy you like Admah
    or demolish you like Zeboiim?
My heart is torn within me,
    and my compassion overflows.
No, I will not unleash my fierce anger.
    I will not completely destroy Israel,
for I am God and not a mere mortal.
    I am the Holy One living among you,
    and I will not come to destroy.
10 For someday the people will follow me.
    I, the Lord, will roar like a lion.
And when I roar,
    my people will return trembling from the west.
11 Like a flock of birds, they will come from Egypt.
    Trembling like doves, they will return from Assyria.
And I will bring them home again,”
    says the Lord.

Charges against Israel and Judah

12 [c]Israel surrounds me with lies and deceit,
    but Judah still obeys God
    and is faithful to the Holy One.[d]

Footnotes

  1. 11:2 As in Greek version; Hebrew reads the more they called to him, the farther he moved from them.
  2. 11:3 Hebrew Ephraim, referring to the northern kingdom of Israel; also in 11:8, 9, 12.
  3. 11:12a Verse 11:12 is numbered 12:1 in Hebrew text.
  4. 11:12b Or and Judah is unruly against God, the faithful Holy One. The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.

The Beloved Son

11 When Israel was a youth I loved him,
And (A)out of Egypt I (B)called My son.
The more [a](C)they called them,
The more they went from [b]them;
They kept (D)sacrificing to the Baals
And (E)burning incense to graven images.
Yet it is I who taught Ephraim to walk;
[c]I (F)took them in My arms;
But they did not know that I (G)healed them.
I (H)led them with cords of a man, with bonds of love,
And (I)I became to them as one who lifts the yoke from their jaws;
And I bent down and (J)fed them.

[d]They will not return to the land of Egypt;
But Assyria—he will be [e]their king
Because they (K)refused to return to Me.
And the (L)sword will whirl against [f]their cities
And will consume [g]their gate bars
And (M)devour them because of their (N)counsels.
So My people are hung up on (O)turning from Me.
Though [h]they call [i]them to the One on high,
None at all exalts Him.

(P)How can I give you up, O Ephraim?
How can I surrender you, O Israel?
How can I give you over to be like (Q)Admah?
How can I make you like (R)Zeboiim?
My heart is turned over within Me;
[j]All My compassions are stirred.
I will (S)not execute My burning anger;
I will not make Ephraim a ruin (T)again.
For (U)I am God and not man, the (V)Holy One in your midst,
And I will not come in [k]wrath.
10 They will (W)walk after Yahweh;
He will (X)roar like a lion;
Indeed, He will roar,
And His sons will come (Y)trembling from the west.
11 They will come trembling like birds from (Z)Egypt
And like (AA)doves from the land of (AB)Assyria;
And I will (AC)settle them in their houses, declares Yahweh.

12 [l]Ephraim surrounds Me with [m](AD)lies
And the house of Israel with deceit;
And Judah is also unruly against God,
Even against the Holy One who is faithful.

Footnotes

  1. Hosea 11:2 God’s prophets
  2. Hosea 11:2 God’s prophets
  3. Hosea 11:3 As in ancient versions; Heb He...His
  4. Hosea 11:5 Lit He
  5. Hosea 11:5 Lit his
  6. Hosea 11:6 Lit his
  7. Hosea 11:6 Lit his
  8. Hosea 11:7 God’s prophets
  9. Hosea 11:7 Israel; lit him
  10. Hosea 11:8 Lit Together
  11. Hosea 11:9 Lit excitement
  12. Hosea 11:12 Ch 12:1 in Heb
  13. Hosea 11:12 Lit lie