Hosea 11

God’s Love for Israel

“When Israel was a child,^a I loved^b him,

and out of Egypt I called my son.^c

But the more they were called,

the more they went away from me.^d

They sacrificed to the Baals^e

and they burned incense to images.^f

It was I who taught Ephraim to walk,

taking them by the arms;^g

but they did not realize

it was I who healed^h them.

I led them with cords of human kindness,

with ties of love.ⁱ

To them I was like one who lifts

a little child to the cheek,

and I bent down to feed^j them.^k

“Will they not return to Egypt^l

and will not Assyria^m rule over them

because they refuse to repent?ⁿ

Swords^o will flash in their cities,

will destroy the bars^p of their gates

and put an end to their plans.

My people are determined to turn^q from me.^r

Even though they call me God Most High,

I will by no means exalt them.

“How can I give you up,^s Ephraim?^t

How can I hand you over, Israel?

How can I treat you like Admah?

How can I make you like Zeboyim?^u

My heart is changed within me;

all my compassion^v is aroused.^w

I will not carry out my fierce anger,^x

nor will I devastate^y Ephraim again.

For I am God, and not a human being^z—

the Holy One^a among you.

I will not come against their cities.

They will follow the Lord;

he will roar^b like a lion.^c

When he roars,

his children will come trembling^d from the west.^e

They will come trembling

like birds from Egypt,

like doves^f from Assyria.^g

I will settle them in their homes,”^h

declares the Lord.

Israel’s Sin

^*Ephraim has surrounded me with lies,^a

the house of Israel with deceit.

And Judah is unruly against God,

even against the faithful^b Holy One.^c