Hosea 11:1-7

Reversal of the Exodus: Return to Egypt and Exile in Assyria

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!