Hosea 11

1 When Israel was a child he was dear to me; and I took my son out of Egypt.

As the morning passeth, so hath the king of Israel Israel was a child, and I loved him: and I called my son out of Egypt.

2 When I sent for them, then they went away from me; they made offerings to the Baals, burning perfumes to images.

As they called them, they went away from before their face: they offered victims to Baalim, and sacrificed to idols.

3 But I was guiding Ephraim's footsteps; I took them up in my arms, but they were not conscious that I was ready to make them well.

And I was like a foster father to Ephraim, I carried them in my arms: and they knew not that I healed them.

4 I made them come after me with the cords of a man, with the bands of love; I was to them as one who took the yoke from off their mouths, putting meat before them.

I will draw them with the cords of Adam, with the bands of love: and I will be to them as one that taketh off the yoke on their jaws: and I put his meat to him that he might eat.

5 He will go back to the land of Egypt and the Assyrian will be his king, because they would not come back to me.

He shall not return into the land of Egypt, but the Assyrian shall be his king: because they would not be converted.

6 And the sword will go through his towns, wasting his children and causing destruction because of their evil designs.

The sword hath begun in his cities, and it shall consume his chosen men, and shall devour their heads.

7 My people are given up to sinning against me; though their voice goes up on high, no one will be lifting them up.

And my people shall long for my return: but a yoke shall be put upon them together, which shall not be taken off.

8 How may I give you up, O Ephraim? how may I be your saviour, O Israel? how may I make you like Admah? how may I do to you as I did to Zeboim? My heart is turned in me, it is soft with pity.

How shall I deal with thee, O Ephraim, shall I protect thee, O Israel? how shall I make thee as Adama, shall I set thee as Seboim? my heart is turned within me, my repentance is stirred up.

9 I will not put into effect the heat of my wrath; I will not again send destruction on Ephraim; for I am God and not man, the Holy One among you; I will not put an end to you.

I will not execute the fierceness of my wrath: I will not return to destroy Ephraim: because I am God, and not man: the holy one in the midst of thee, and I will not enter into the city.

10 They will go after the Lord; his cry will be like that of a lion; his cry will be loud, and the children will come from the west, shaking with fear;

They shall walk after the Lord, he shall roar as a lion: because he shall roar, and the children of the sea shall fear.

11 Shaking with fear like a bird, they will come out of Egypt, like a dove out of the land of Assyria: and I will give them rest in their houses, says the Lord.

And they shall fly away like a bird out of Egypt, and like a dove out of the land of the Assyrians: and I will place them in their own houses, saith the Lord.

12 The deceit of Ephraim and the false words of Israel are about me on every side. ...

Ephraim hath compassed me about with denials, and the house of Israel with deceit: but Juda went down as a witness with God, and is faithful with the saints.