Hosea 11
New Living Translation
The Lord’s Love for Israel
11 “When Israel was a child, I loved him,
and I called my son out of Egypt.
2 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.
3 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.
4 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.
5 “But since my people refuse to return to me,
they will return to Egypt
and will be forced to serve Assyria.
6 War will swirl through their cities;
their enemies will crash through their gates.
They will destroy them,
trapping them in their own evil plans.
7 For my people are determined to desert me.
They call me the Most High,
but they don’t truly honor me.
8 “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.
9 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
- 11:2 As in Greek version; Hebrew reads the more they called to him, the farther he moved from them.
- 11:3 Hebrew Ephraim, referring to the northern kingdom of Israel; also in 11:8, 9, 12.
- 11:12a Verse 11:12 is numbered 12:1 in Hebrew text.
- 11:12b Or and Judah is unruly against God, the faithful Holy One. The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.
Hosea 11
Living Bible
11 “When Israel was a child, I loved him as a son and brought him out of Egypt. 2 But the more I called to him, the more he rebelled, sacrificing to Baal and burning incense to idols. 3 I trained him from infancy, I taught him to walk, I held him in my arms. But he doesn’t know or even care that it was I who raised him.
4 “As a man would lead his favorite ox,[a] so I led Israel with my ropes of love. I loosened his muzzle so he could eat. I myself have stooped and fed him. 5 But my people shall return to Egypt and Assyria because they won’t return to me.
6 “War will swirl through their cities; their enemies will crash through their gates and trap them in their own fortresses. 7 For my people are determined to desert me. And so I have sentenced them to slavery, and no one shall set them free.
8 “Oh, how can I give you up, my Ephraim? How can I let you go? How can I forsake you like Admah and Zeboiim?[b] My heart cries out within me; how I long to help you! 9 No, I will not punish you as much as my fierce anger tells me to. This is the last time I will destroy Ephraim. For I am God and not man; I am the Holy One living among you, and I did not come to destroy.
10 “For the people shall walk after the Lord. I shall roar as a lion at their enemies and my people shall return trembling from the west. 11 Like a flock of birds, they will come from Egypt—like doves flying from Assyria. And I will bring them home again; it is a promise from the Lord.”
12 Israel surrounds me with lies and deceit, but Judah still trusts in God and is faithful to the Holy One.
Footnotes
- Hosea 11:4 As a man would lead his favorite ox, implied.
- Hosea 11:8 Admah and Zeboiim, cities of the plain that perished with Sodom and Gomorrah; see Deuteronomy 29:23.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.