Hosea 11

God Yearns over His People

1When Israel was a youth I loved him, And 1out of Egypt I 2called My son.2The more 34they called them, The more they went from 5them; They kept 6sacrificing to the Baals And 7burning incense to idols.3Yet it is I who taught Ephraim to walk, 8I 9took them in My arms; But they did not know that I 10healed them.4I 11led them with cords of a man, with bonds of love, And 12I became to them as one who lifts the yoke from their jaws; And I bent down and 13fed them.

514They will not return to the land of Egypt; But Assyria--he will be 15their king Because they 16refused to return to Me.6The 17sword will whirl against 18their cities, And will demolish 19their gate bars And 20consume them because of their 21counsels.7So My people are bent on 22turning from Me. Though 23they call 24them to the One on high, None at all exalts Him.

825How can I give you up, O Ephraim? How can I surrender you, O Israel? How can I 26make you like 27Admah? How can I treat you like 28Zeboiim? My heart is turned over within Me, 29All My compassions are kindled.9I will 30not execute My fierce anger; I will not destroy Ephraim 31again. For 32I am God and not man, the 33Holy One in your midst, And I will not come in 34wrath.10They will 35walk after the Lord, He will 36roar like a lion; Indeed He will roar And His sons will come 37trembling from the west.11They will come trembling like birds from 38Egypt And like 39doves from the land of 40Assyria; And I will 41settle them in their houses, declares the Lord.

1242Ephraim surrounds Me with 43lies And the house of Israel with deceit; Judah is also unruly against God, Even against the Holy One who is faithful.