< Hosea 11 >

1 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.
Early in the morning were they cast off, the king of Israel has been cast off: for Israel is a child, and I loved him, and out of Egypt have I called his children.
2 As they called them, they went away from before their face: they offered victims to Baalim, and sacrificed to idols.
As I called them, so they departed from my presence: they sacrificed to Baalim, and burnt incense to graven images.
3 And I was like a foster father to Ephraim, I carried them in my arms: and they knew not that I healed them.
Yet I bound the feet of Ephraim, I took him on my arm; but they knew not that I healed them.
4 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.
When men were destroyed, I drew them with the bands of my love: and I will be to them as a man striking [another] on his cheek: and I will have respect to him, I will prevail with him.
5 He shall not return into the land of Egypt, but the Assyrian shall be his king: because they would not be converted.
Ephraim lived in Egypt; and [as for] the Assyrian, he was his king, because he would not return.
6 The sword hath begun in his cities, and it shall consume his chosen men, and shall devour their heads.
And in his cities he prevailed not with the sword, and he ceased [to war] with his hands: and they shall eat [of the fruit] of their own devices:
7 And my people shall long for my return: but a yoke shall be put upon them together, which shall not be taken off.
and his people [shall] cleave fondly to their habitation; but God shall be angry with his precious things, and shall not at all exalt him.
8 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.
How shall I deal with you, Ephraim? [how] shall I protect you, Israel? what shall I do with you? I will make you as Adama, and as Seboim; my heart is turned at once, my repentance is powerfully excited.
9 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.
I will not act according to the fury of my wrath, I will not abandon Ephraim to be utterly destroyed: for I am God, and not man; the Holy One within you: and I will not enter into the city.
10 They shall walk after the Lord, he shall roar as a lion: because he shall roar, and the children of the sea shall fear.
I will go after the Lord: he shall utter [his voice] as a lion: for he shall roar, and the children of the waters shall be amazed.
11 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.
They shall be amazed [and fly] as a bird out of Egypt, and as a dove out of the land of the Assyrians: and I will restore them to their houses, says the Lord.
12 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.
Ephraim has compassed me with falsehood, and the house of Israel and Juda with ungodliness: [but] now God knows them, and they shall be called God's holy people.

< Hosea 11 >