Hosea 11:1-11
The Lord's Love for Israel
1
"When Israel was a 1 child, I loved him,
And out of Egypt a I called My b son.
2
2 As they called them,
So they c went 3 from them;
They sacrificed to the Baals,
And burned incense to carved images.
3
"I d taught Ephraim to walk,
Taking them by 4 their arms;
But they did not know that e I healed them.
4
I drew them with 5 gentle cords,
With bands of love,
And f I was to them as those who take the yoke from their 6 neck.
g I stooped and fed them.
5
"He shall not return to the land of Egypt;
But the Assyrian shall be his king,
Because they refused to repent.
6
And the sword shall slash in his cities,
Devour his districts,
And consume them,
Because of their own counsels.
7
My people are bent on h backsliding from Me.
Though 7 they call 8 to the Most High, 8
None at all exalt Him.
8
"How i can I give you up, Ephraim?
How can I hand you over, Israel?
How can I make you like j Admah?
How can I set you like Zeboiim?
My heart 10 churns within Me;
My sympathy is stirred.
9
I will not execute the fierceness of My anger;
I will not again destroy Ephraim.
k For I am God, and not man,
The Holy One in your midst;
And I will not 11 come with terror.
10
"They shall walk after the LORD.
l He will roar like a lion.
When He roars,
Then His sons shall come trembling from the west;
11
They shall come trembling like a bird from Egypt,
m Like a dove from the land of Assyria.
n And I will let them dwell in their houses,"
Says the LORD.