Hosea 11:1–4

THE LORD’S LOVE FOR ISRAEL

11 When Israel was a child, I loved him,p

and out of Egypt I called my son.q

2 Israel called to the Egyptiansr

even as Israel was leaving them.A

They kept sacrificing to the Baalss

and burning offerings to idols.t

3 It was I who taught Ephraim to walk,u

taking themB by the hand,C,v

but they never knew that I healed them.w

4 I led them with human cords,

with ropes of love.x

To them I was like one

who eases the yoke from their jaws;y

I bent down to give them food.z