Hosea 11

11:1 When Israel was a young man, I loved him like a son,

and I summoned my son out of Egypt.

11:2 But the more I summoned them,

the farther they departed from me.

They sacrificed to the Baal idols

and burned incense to images.

11:3 Yet it was I who led Ephraim,

I took them by the arm;

but they did not acknowledge

that I had healed them.

11:4 I led them with leather cords,

with leather ropes;

I lifted the yoke from their neck,

and gently fed them.

11:5 They will return to Egypt!

Assyria will rule over them

because they refuse to repent!

11:6 A sword will flash in their cities,

it will destroy the bars of their city gates,

and will devour them in their fortresses.

11:7 My people are obsessed with turning away from me;

they call to Baal, but he will never exalt them!

11:8 How can I give you up, O Ephraim?

How can I surrender you, O Israel?

How can I treat you like Admah?

How can I make you like Zeboiim?

I have had a change of heart!

All my tender compassions are aroused!

11:9 I cannot carry out my fierce anger!

I cannot totally destroy Ephraim!

Because I am God, and not man – the Holy One among you –

I will not come in wrath!

11:10 He will roar like a lion,

and they will follow the Lord;

when he roars,

his children will come trembling from the west.

11:11 They will return in fear and trembling

like birds from Egypt,

like doves from Assyria,

and I will settle them in their homes,” declares the Lord.

11:12 (12:1) Ephraim has surrounded me with lies;

the house of Israel has surrounded me with deceit.

But Judah still roams about with God;

he remains faithful to the Holy One.