God Yearns over His People

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 away from [b]them;
They kept (D)sacrificing to the Baals
And (E)burning incense to idols.
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)pulled them along with cords of a man, with ropes 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 destroy [g]their oracle priests
And (M)consume them, because of their (N)counsels.
So My people are determined to (O)turn from Me.
Though [h]they call [i]them to the One on high,
None at all exalts Him.

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Footnotes

  1. Hosea 11:2 I.e., God’s prophets
  2. Hosea 11:2 I.e., God’s prophets
  3. Hosea 11:3 As in ancient versions; MT 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 I.e., God’s prophets
  9. Hosea 11:7 Lit him; i.e., Israel

God Loves Israel

11 “When Israel was a young child I loved him,
    and from Egypt I called my son.
The more I called out to them,
    the farther they fled from me;[a]
they sacrificed to Baals,[b]
    burning incense to carved images.
Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk,
    supporting them by their arms,
        but they never knew that I was healing them.
I guided them with human kindness,
    with loving reins.
I acted toward them
    like one who removes a yoke from their neck;
        I bent down and fed them.

“They will not return to the land of Egypt;
    instead, the Assyrian will be their king,
        because they kept refusing to repent.
The sword will fall on their cities,
    consuming and devouring their fortified gates,[c]
        despite their planning.
My people are determined to turn away from me;
    though they call to the Most High,
        no one is worshiping.

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Footnotes

  1. Hosea 11:2 So LXX. MT reads They called to them, so they went away from them.
  2. Hosea 11:2 I.e. Canaanite deities
  3. Hosea 11:6 Lit. devouring the bars