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11 “When Israel was a child, then I loved him,

    and called my son out of Egypt.
They called to them, so they went from them.
    They sacrificed to the Baals,
    and burned incense to engraved images.
Yet I taught Ephraim to walk.
    I took them by his arms;
    but they didn’t know that I healed them.
I drew them with cords of a man, with ties of love;
    and I was to them like those who lift up the yoke on their necks;
    and I bent down to him and I fed him.

“They won’t return into the land of Egypt;
    but the Assyrian will be their king,
    because they refused to repent.
The sword will fall on their cities,
    and will destroy the bars of their gates,
    and will put an end to their plans.
My people are determined to turn from me.
    Though they call to the Most High,
    he certainly won’t exalt them.

“How can I give you up, Ephraim?
    How can I hand you over, Israel?
    How can I make you like Admah?
    How can I make you like Zeboiim?
My heart is turned within me,
    my compassion is aroused.
I will not execute the fierceness of my anger.
    I will not return to destroy Ephraim:
    for I am God, and not man; the Holy One among you;
    and I will not come in wrath.
10 They will walk after Yahweh,
    who will roar like a lion;
    for he will roar, and the children will come trembling from the west.
11 They will come trembling like a bird out of Egypt,
    and like a dove out of the land of Assyria;
and I will settle them in their houses,” says Yahweh.

12 Ephraim surrounds me with falsehood,
    and the house of Israel with deceit.
    Judah still strays from God,
    and is unfaithful to the Holy One.

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.