Hosea 11:1–8

God’s Love for His Rebellious People

11^*The Lord says,

“When Israel was a child, I loved him

and called him out of Egypt as my son.^f

²But the more I^g called to him,

the more he turned away from me.^h

My people sacrificed to Baal;

they burnt incense to idols.

³Yet I was the one who taught Israel to walk.

I took my people up in my arms,ⁱ

but they did not acknowledge that I took care of them.

⁴I drew them to me with affection and love.

I picked them up and held them to my cheek;

I bent down to them and fed them.^{j 5}“They refuse to return to me, and so they must return to Egypt, and Assyria will rule them. ⁶War will sweep through their cities and break down the city gates. It will destroy my people because they do what they themselves think best. ⁷They insist on turning away from me. They will cry out because of the yoke that is on them, but no one will lift it from them.^k

^8*“How can I give you up, Israel?

How can I abandon you?

Could I ever destroy you as I did Admah,

or treat you as I did Zeboiim?

My heart will not let me do it!

My love for you is too strong.