Hosea 11

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

I loved Israel when he was a child. He's my son I called 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, so they went from them: they sacrificed to the Baals and offered incense 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.

I myself taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by the hand, but they didn't realize I was the one who 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 led them along with cords of kindness, with ropes of love. I was the one who eased their burden and bent down to feed them.

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.

However, because my people refuse to return to me, they will not return to the land of Egypt but Assyria shall be their king.

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

War will sweep through their cities, putting an end to their boasting and destroying their plans.

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

My people are hanging on to their apostasy from me. They call him “god on high” but he will not raise them up at all.

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 can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I let you go, Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I treat you like Zeboiim? My heart is breaking; I am full of compassion.

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 anger, I will not destroy Ephraim again. For I am God, not a human being. I am the Holy One living among you. I will not enter your cities.

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;

The people will follow me, the Lord. He will roar like a lion. When he roars like a lion then his children will come trembling from the west.

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.

Like a flock of frightened birds they will come from Egypt, like doves they will come from Assyria, and I will bring them back home, declares the Lord.

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

Ephraim surrounds me with lies and Israel with deceit, and Judah still wanders with some deity, faithful to some “Holy One.”