Hosea 11:5–11

They shall not return to the land of Egypt,

but Assyria shall be their king,

because they have refused to return to me.

The sword shall rage against their cities,

consume the bars of their gates,

and devour them because of their own counsels.

My people are bent on turning away from me,

and though they call out to the Most High,

he shall not raise them up at all.

How can I give you up, O Ephraim?

How can I hand you over, O Israel?

How can I make you like Admah?

How can I treat you like Zeboiim?

My heart recoils within me;

my compassion grows warm and tender.

I will not execute my burning anger;

I will not again destroy Ephraim;

for I am God and not a man,

the Holy One in your midst,

and I will not come in wrath.

They shall go after the Lord;

he will roar like a lion;

when he roars,

his children shall come trembling from the west;

they shall come trembling like birds from Egypt,

and like doves from the land of Assyria,

and I will return them to their homes, declares the Lord.

“Will they not return to Egypt

and will not Assyria rule over them

because they refuse to repent?

A sword will flash in their cities;

it will devour their false prophets

and put an end to their plans.

My people are determined to turn from me.

Even though they call me God Most High,

I will by no means exalt them.

“How can I give you up, Ephraim?

How can I hand you over, Israel?

How can I treat you like Admah?

How can I make you like Zeboyim?

My heart is changed within me;

all my compassion is aroused.

I will not carry out my fierce anger,

nor will I devastate Ephraim again.

For I am God, and not a man—

the Holy One among you.

I will not come against their cities.

They will follow the Lord;

he will roar like a lion.

When he roars,

his children will come trembling from the west.

They will come from Egypt,

trembling like sparrows,

from Assyria, fluttering like doves.

I will settle them in their homes,”

declares the Lord.

“But since my people refuse to return to me,

they will return to Egypt

and will be forced to serve Assyria.

War will swirl through their cities;

their enemies will crash through their gates.

They will destroy them,

trapping them in their own evil plans.

For my people are determined to desert me.

They call me the Most High,

but they don’t truly honor me.

“Oh, how can I give you up, Israel?

How can I let you go?

How can I destroy you like Admah

or demolish you like Zeboiim?

My heart is torn within me,

and my compassion overflows.

No, I will not unleash my fierce anger.

I will not completely destroy Israel,

for I am God and not a mere mortal.

I am the Holy One living among you,

and I will not come to destroy.

For someday the people will follow me.

I, the Lord, will roar like a lion.

And when I roar,

my people will return trembling from the west.

Like a flock of birds, they will come from Egypt.

Trembling like doves, they will return from Assyria.

And I will bring them home again,”

says the Lord.

He will return to the land of Egypt,

and Assyria will be his king,

because they refused to return.

The sword rages in his cities;

it consumes his false prophets

and devours because of their plans.

My people are bent on backsliding from me.

To the Most High they call,

he does not raise them at all.

How can I give you up, O Ephraim?

How can I hand you over, O Israel?

How can I make you like Admah?

How can I treat you like Zeboiim?

My heart is disturbed within me;

all my compassions are aroused.

I will not execute my fierce anger,

I will not again destroy Ephraim;

because I am God

and not a mortal,

the Holy One in your midst;

and I will not come in wrath.

They will go after Yahweh;

he roars like a lion.

When he roars,

his children will come trembling

from the sea.

They will tremble like birds from Egypt,

and like doves from the land of Assyria;

and I will let them return to their homes—

a declaration of Yahweh.

He shall not return into the land of Egypt,

But the Assyrian shall be his king,

Because they refused to return.

And the sword shall abide on his cities,

And shall consume his branches, and devour them,

Because of their own counsels.

And my people are bent to backsliding from me:

Though they called them to the most High,

None at all would exalt him.

How shall I give thee up, Ephraim?

How shall I deliver thee, Israel?

How shall I make thee as Admah?

How shall I set thee as Zeboim?

Mine heart is turned within me,

My repentings are kindled together.

I 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 enter into the city.

They shall walk after the Lord: he shall roar like a lion:

When he shall roar, then the children shall tremble from the west.

They shall tremble as a bird out of Egypt,

And as a dove out of the land of Assyria:

And I will place them in their houses, saith the Lord.