Hosea 11–12

God’s Compassion Despite Israel’s Ingratitude

¹¹When Israel was a child, I loved him,

and out of Egypt I called my son.^*

²The more I^y called them,

the more they went from me;^z

they kept sacrificing to the Baals

and offering incense to idols.^*

³Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk;

I took them up in my^a arms,

but they did not know that I healed them.^*

⁴I led them with cords of human kindness,

with bands of love.

I was to them like those

who lift infants to their cheeks.^b

I bent down to them and fed them.^*

⁵They shall return to the land of Egypt,

and Assyria shall be their king,

because they have refused to return to me.^*

⁶The sword rages in their cities;

it consumes their oracle priests

and devours because of their schemes.^*

⁷My people are bent on turning away from me.

To the Most High they call,

but he does not raise them up at all.^c*

⁸How can I give you up, 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.^*

⁹I will not execute my fierce anger;

I will not again destroy Ephraim,

for I am God and no mortal,

the Holy One in your midst,

and I will not come in wrath.^d*

¹⁰They shall go after the Lord,

who roars like a lion;

when he roars,

his children shall come trembling from the west.^*

¹¹They shall come trembling like birds from Egypt

and like doves from the land of Assyria,

and I will return them to their homes, says the Lord.^*

^12eEphraim has surrounded me with lies

and the house of Israel with deceit,

but Judah still walks^f with God

and is faithful to the Holy One.^*

¹²Ephraim herds the wind

and pursues the east wind all day long;

they multiply falsehood and violence;

they make a treaty with Assyria,

and oil is carried to Egypt.^*

The Long History of Rebellion

²The Lord has an indictment against Judah

and will punish Jacob according to his ways

and repay him according to his deeds.^*

³In the womb he tried to supplant his brother,

and in his manhood he strove with God.^*

⁴He strove with the angel and prevailed;

he wept and sought his favor;

he met him at Bethel,

and there he spoke with him.^g*

⁵The Lord the God of hosts,

the Lord is his name!

⁶But as for you, return to your God;

hold fast to love and justice,

and wait continually for your God.^*

⁷A trader in whose hands are false balances,

he loves to oppress.^*

⁸Ephraim has said, “Ah, I am rich;

I have gained wealth for myself;

in all of my gain

no offense has been found in me

that would be sin.”^h*

⁹I am the Lord your God

from the land of Egypt;

I will make you live in tents again,

as in the days of the appointed festival.^*

¹⁰I spoke to the prophets;

it was I who multiplied visions,

and through the prophets I will bring destruction.^*

¹¹Inⁱ Gilead there is iniquity;

they shall surely come to nothing.

In Gilgal they sacrifice bulls,

so their altars shall be like stone heaps

on the furrows of the field.^*

¹²Jacob fled to the land of Aram;

there Israel served for a wife,

and for a wife he guarded sheep.^j*

¹³By a prophet the Lord brought Israel up from Egypt,

and by a prophet he was guarded.^*

¹⁴Ephraim has given bitter offense,

so his Lord will bring his crimes down on him

and pay him back for his insults.^*