The Lord’s Love for Israel

11 When Israel was a child, I loved him,(A)
and out of Egypt I called My son.(B)
The more they[a] called them,[b](C)
the more they[c] departed from Me.[d]
They kept sacrificing to the Baals(D)
and burning offerings to idols.(E)
It was I who taught Ephraim to walk,(F)
taking them[e] in My arms,(G)
but they never knew that I healed them.(H)
I led them with human cords,
with ropes of love.(I)
To them I was like one
who eases the yoke from their jaws;(J)
I bent down to give them food.(K)
Israel will not return to the land of Egypt
and Assyria will be his king,(L)
because they refused to repent.(M)
A sword will whirl through his cities;(N)
it will destroy and devour the bars of his gates,[f](O)
because of their schemes.(P)
My people are bent on turning from Me.(Q)
Though they call to Him on high,
He will not exalt them at all.

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Footnotes

  1. Hosea 11:2 Perhaps the prophets
  2. Hosea 11:2 = Israel
  3. Hosea 11:2 = Israel
  4. Hosea 11:2 LXX; MT reads them
  5. Hosea 11:3 LXX, Syr, Vg; MT reads him
  6. Hosea 11:6 Or devour his empty talkers, or devour his limbs; Hb obscure

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.

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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.