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God’s Love for Israel

11 “When Israel was a child, I loved him,
    and I called my son out of Egypt.
But when I called the people of Israel,
    they went away from me.
They offered sacrifices to the Baals
    and burned incense to the idols.
It was I who taught Israel to walk,
    and I took them by the arms,
but they did not understand
    that I had healed them.
I led them with cords of human kindness,
    with ropes of love.
I lifted the yoke from their neck
    and bent down and fed them.

“The Israelites will become captives again, as they were in Egypt,
    and Assyria will become their king,
    because they refuse to turn back to God.
War will sweep through their cities
    and will destroy them
    and kill them because of their wicked plans.
My people have made up their minds
    to turn away from me.
The prophets call them to turn to me,
    but none of them honors me at all.

“Israel, how can I give you up?
    How can I give you away, Israel?
I don’t want to make you like Admah
    or treat you like Zeboiim.[a]
My heart beats for you,
    and my love for you stirs up my pity.
I won’t punish you in my anger,
    and I won’t destroy Israel again.
I am God and not a human;
    I am the Holy One, and I am among you.
    I will not come against you in anger.
10 They will go after the Lord,
    and he will roar like a lion.
When he roars,
    his children will hurry to him from the west.
11 They will come swiftly
    like birds from Egypt
    and like doves from Assyria.
I will settle them again in their homes,”
    says the Lord.

The Lord Is Against Israel

12 Israel has surrounded me with lies;
    the people have made evil plans.
And Judah turns against God,
    the faithful Holy One.

Footnotes

  1. 11:8 Admah . . . Zeboiim Two other cities destroyed when God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.

God’s Love for Israel

11 “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.[a](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)
A sword(O) will flash in their cities;
    it will devour(P) their false prophets
    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 man(Z)
    the Holy One(AA) among you.
    I will not come against their cities.
10 They will follow the Lord;
    he will roar(AB) like a lion.(AC)
When he roars,
    his children will come trembling(AD) from the west.(AE)
11 They will come from Egypt,
    trembling like sparrows,
    from Assyria,(AF) fluttering like doves.(AG)
I will settle them in their homes,”(AH)
    declares the Lord.

Israel’s Sin

12 Ephraim has surrounded me with lies,(AI)
    Israel with deceit.
And Judah is unruly against God,
    even against the faithful(AJ) Holy One.[b](AK)

Footnotes

  1. Hosea 11:2 Septuagint; Hebrew them
  2. Hosea 11:12 In Hebrew texts this verse (11:12) is numbered 12:1.

11 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, and 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.

I will not execute the fierceness of mine anger, I will not return to destroy Ephraim: for I am God, and not man; the Holy One in the midst of thee: and I will not enter into the city.

10 They shall walk after the Lord: he shall roar like a lion: when he shall roar, then the children shall tremble from the west.

11 They shall tremble as a bird out of Egypt, and as a dove out of the land of Assyria: and I will place them in their houses, saith the Lord.

12 Ephraim compasseth me about with lies, and the house of Israel with deceit: but Judah yet ruleth with God, and is faithful with the saints.