Hosea 11–12

11When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt. ²The more the prophets called them, the more they went from them: they sacrificed unto the Baalim, and burned incense to graven images. ³Yet I taught Ephraim to walk; I took them on my arms; but they knew not that I healed them. ⁴I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love; and I was to them as they that lift up the yoke on their jaws; and I laid food before them.

⁵They shall not return into the land of Egypt; but the Assyrian shall be their king, because they refused to return to me. ⁶And the sword shall fall upon their cities, and shall consume their bars, and devour them, because of their own counsels. ⁷And my people are bent on backsliding from me: though they call them to him that is on high, none at all will exalt him.

⁸How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? how shall I cast thee off, Israel? how shall I make thee as Admah? how shall I set thee as Zeboiim? my heart is turned within me, my compassions are kindled together. ⁹I will not execute the fierceness of mine anger, I will not return to destroy Ephraim: for I am God, and not man; the Holy One in the midst of thee; and I will not come in wrath. ¹⁰They shall walk after Jehovah, who will roar like a lion; for he will roar, and the children shall come trembling from the west. ¹¹They shall come trembling as a bird out of Egypt, and as a dove out of the land of Assyria; and I will make them to dwell in their houses, saith Jehovah.

¹²Ephraim compasseth me about with falsehood, and the house of Israel with deceit; but Judah yet ruleth with God, and is faithful with the Holy One.

12Ephraim feedeth on wind, and followeth after the east wind: he continually multiplieth lies and desolation; and they make a covenant with Assyria, and oil is carried into Egypt. ²Jehovah hath also a controversy with Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways; according to his doings will he recompense him. ³In the womb he took his brother by the heel; and in his manhood he had power with God: ⁴yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed; he wept, and made supplication unto him: he found him at Beth-el, and there he spake with us, ⁵even Jehovah, the God of hosts; Jehovah is his memorial name. ⁶Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep kindness and justice, and wait for thy God continually.

⁷He is a trafficker, the balances of deceit are in his hand: he loveth to oppress. ⁸And Ephraim said, Surely I am become rich, I have found me wealth: in all my labors they shall find in me no iniquity that were sin. ⁹But I am Jehovah thy God from the land of Egypt; I will yet again make thee to dwell in tents, as in the days of the solemn feast. ¹⁰I have also spoken unto the prophets, and I have multiplied visions; and by the ministry of the prophets have I used similitudes. ¹¹Is Gilead iniquity? they are altogether false; in Gilgal they sacrifice bullocks; yea, their altars are as heaps in the furrows of the field. ¹²And Jacob fled into the field of Aram, and Israel served for a wife, and for a wife he kept sheep. ¹³And by a prophet Jehovah brought Israel up out of Egypt, and by a prophet was he preserved. ¹⁴Ephraim hath provoked to anger most bitterly: therefore shall his blood be left upon him, and his reproach shall his Lord return unto him.