Hosea 11:1–8

When Israel was a child, I loved him,

and out of Egypt I called my son.

The more they were called,

the more they went away;

they kept sacrificing to the Baals

and burning offerings to idols.

Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk;

I took them up by their arms,

but they did not know that I healed them.

I led them with cords of kindness,

with the bands of love,

and I became to them as one who eases the yoke on their jaws,

and I bent down to them and fed them.

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.

“When Israel was a child, I loved him,

and out of Egypt I called my son.

But the more they were called,

the more they went away from me.

They sacrificed to the Baals

and they burned incense to images.

It was I who taught Ephraim to walk,

taking them by the arms;

but they did not realize

it was I who healed them.

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.

“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.

When Israel was a child, I loved him,

and out of Egypt I called my son.

Israel called to the Egyptians

even as Israel was leaving them.

They kept sacrificing to the Baals

and burning offerings to idols.

It was I who taught Ephraim to walk,

taking them by the hand,

but they never knew that I healed them.

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.

Israel will not return to the land of Egypt

and Assyria will be his king,

because they refused to repent.

A sword will whirl through his cities;

it will destroy and devour the bars of his gates,

because of their schemes.

My people are bent on turning from me.

Though they call to him on high,

he will not exalt them at all.

How can I give you up, Ephraim?

How can I surrender you, Israel?

How can I make you like Admah?

How can I treat you like Zeboiim?

I have had a change of heart;

my compassion is stirred!

“When Israel was a child, I loved him,

and I called my son out of Egypt.

But the more I called to him,

the farther he moved from me,

offering sacrifices to the images of Baal

and burning incense to idols.

I myself taught Israel how to walk,

leading him along by the hand.

But he doesn’t know or even care

that it was I who took care of him.

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.

“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.

When Israel was a child, I loved him,

and out of Egypt I called my son.

When I called them, they went from my face.

They sacrificed to the Baals, and they sacrificed to idols.

And I myself taught Ephraim to walk;

I took them in my arms,

but they did not know that I healed them.

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.

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.

When Israel was a child, then I loved him,

And called my son out of Egypt.

As they called them, so they went from them:

They sacrificed unto Baalim, and burned incense to graven images.

I taught Ephraim also to go, taking them by their arms;

But they knew not that I healed them.

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.

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.