Hosea 11–12

¹Because Israel is a youth, and I love him, Out of Egypt I have called for My Son. ²They have called to them rightly, They have gone from before them, To lords they do sacrifice, And to graven images they make perfume. ³And I have caused Ephraim to go on foot, Taking them by their arms, And they have not known that I strengthened them. ⁴With cords of man I do draw them, With thick cords of love, And I am to them as a raiser up of a yoke on their jaws, And I incline unto him—I feed him. ⁵He turneth not back unto the land of Egypt, And Asshur—he is his king, For they have refused to return. ⁶Grievous hath been the sword in his cities, And it hath ended his bars, and consumed—from their own counsels. ⁷And My people are hanging in suspense, about My returning, And unto the Most High they do call, Together they exalt not.

⁸How do I give thee up, O Ephraim? Do I deliver thee up, O Israel? How do I make thee as Admah? Do I set thee as Zeboim? Turned in Me is My heart, kindled together have been My repentings. ⁹I do not the fierceness of My anger, I turn not back to destroy Ephraim, For God I am, and not a man. In thy midst the Holy One, and I enter not in enmity, ¹⁰After Jehovah they go—as a lion He roareth, When He doth roar, then tremble do the sons from the west. ¹¹They tremble as a sparrow out of Egypt, And as a dove out of the land of Asshur, And I have caused them to dwell in their own houses, An affirmation of Jehovah. ¹²Compassed Me with feigning hath Ephraim, And with deceit the house of Israel. And Judah again is ruling with God, And with the Holy Ones is faithful!

Chapter 12

¹Ephraim is enjoying wind, And is pursuing an east wind, All the day lying and spoiling he multiplieth, And a covenant with Asshur they make, And oil to Egypt is carried. ²And a controversy hath Jehovah with Judah, To lay a charge on Jacob according to his ways, According to his doings He returneth to him. ³In the womb he took his brother by the heel, And by his strength he was a prince with God, ⁴Yea, he is a prince unto the Messenger, And he overcometh by weeping, And he maketh supplication to Him, At Bethel He doth find him, And there He doth speak with us, ⁵Even Jehovah, God of the Hosts, Jehovah is His memorial. ⁶And thou, through thy God, dost turn, Kindness and judgment keep thou, And wait on thy God continually.

⁷Canaan! in his hand are balances of deceit! To oppress he hath loved. ⁸And Ephraim saith: ‘Surely I have become rich, I have found wealth for myself, All my labours—they find not against me iniquity that is sin.’ ⁹And I—Jehovah thy God from the land of Egypt, Again do I turn thee back into tents, As in the days of the appointed time. ¹⁰And I have spoken unto the prophets, And I have multiplied vision, And by the hand of the prophets I use similes. ¹¹Surely Gilead is iniquity, Only, vanity they have been, In Gilead bullocks they have sacrificed, Also their altars are as heaps, on the furrows of a field. ¹²And Jacob doth flee to the country of Aram, And Israel doth serve for a wife, Yea, for a wife he hath kept watch. ¹³And by a prophet hath Jehovah brought up Israel out of Egypt, And by a prophet it hath been watched. ¹⁴Ephraim hath provoked most bitterly, And his blood on himself he leaveth, And his reproach turn back to him doth his Lord!

Chapter 13