Hosea 11:4–6

4 I led them with cords of human kindness,

with ties of love.

To them I was like one who lifts

a little child to the cheek,

and I bent down to feed them.

5 “Will they not return to Egypt

and will not Assyria rule over them

because they refuse to repent?

6 A sword will flash in their cities;

it will devour their false prophets

and put an end to their plans.

4 I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love:

And I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws,

And I laid meat unto them.

5 He shall not return into the land of Egypt,

But the Assyrian shall be his king,

Because they refused to return.

6 And the sword shall abide on his cities,

And shall consume his branches, and devour them,

Because of their own counsels.

4 I led Israel along

with my ropes of kindness and love.

I lifted the yoke from his neck,

and I myself stooped to feed him.

5 “But since my people refuse to return to me,

they will return to Egypt

and will be forced to serve Assyria.

6 War will swirl through their cities;

their enemies will crash through their gates.

They will destroy them,

trapping them in their own evil plans.

4 I drew them with gentle cords,

With bands of love,

And I was to them as those who take the yoke from their neck.

I stooped and fed them.

5 “He shall not return to the land of Egypt;

But the Assyrian shall be his king,

Because they refused to repent.

6 And the sword shall slash in his cities,

Devour his districts,

And consume them,

Because of their own counsels.

4 I led them with cords of human kindness,

with ropes of love.

I lifted the yoke from their neck

and bent down and fed them.

5 “The Israelites will become captives again, as they were in Egypt,

and Assyria will become their king,

because they refuse to turn back to God.

6 War will sweep through their cities

and will destroy them

and kill them because of their wicked plans.

4 I 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.

5 They shall not return into the land of Egypt; but the Assyrian shall be their king, because they refused to return to me. 6 And the sword shall fall upon their cities, and shall consume their bars, and devour them, because of their own counsels.

4 I drew them with bands of a man, with cords of love; and I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws, and I gently caused them to eat. 5 He shall not return into the land of Egypt, but the Assyrian shall be his king; for they refused to return to me; 6 and the sword shall turn about in his cities, and shall consume his bars, and devour them, because of their own counsels.

4 I led them with cords of human kindness, with ropes of love. 

I removed the yokesfrom their necks. 

I bent down and fed them. 

5 “They will not return to Egypt. 

Instead, Assyria will rule them 

because they have refused to return to me. 

6 War will sweep through their cities, 

demolish their city gates, 

and put an end to their plans. 

4 I led them with human cords,

with ropes of love.

To them I was like one

who eases the yoke from their jaws;

I bent down to give them food.

5 Israel will not return to the land of Egypt

and Assyria will be his king,

because they refused to repent.

6 A sword will whirl through his cities;

it will destroy and devour the bars of his gates,

because of their schemes.

4 I led them with cords of human kindness,

with bands of love.

I was to them like those

who lift infants to their cheeks.

I bent down to them and fed them.

5 They shall return to the land of Egypt,

and Assyria shall be their king,

because they have refused to return to me.

6 The sword rages in their cities;

it consumes their oracle priests

and devours because of their schemes.

4 I drew them with human ties,

with the bands of love.

I was to them like one who lifted up a yoke on their jaws,

though I bent down to them and let them eat.

5 He will return to the land of Egypt,

and Assyria will be his king,

because they refused to return.

6 The sword rages in his cities;

it consumes his false prophets

and devours because of their plans.

4 I led them with kindness and love.

I did not lead them with ropes.

I lifted the heavy loads from their shoulders.

I bent down and fed them.

5 “But they refuse to turn away from their sins.

So they will return to Egypt.

And Assyria will rule over them.

6 Swords will flash in their cities.

The heavy metal bars on their gates will be destroyed.

Their plans will come to an end.

4 I led them with cords of a man, with bonds of love,

And I became to them as one who lifts the yoke from their jaws;

And I bent down and fed them.

5 They will not return to the land of Egypt;

But Assyria—he will be their king

Because they refused to return to Me.

6 The sword will whirl against their cities,

And will demolish their gate bars

And consume them because of their counsels.