The Lord’s Love for Israel

11 When Israel was a child, I loved him,(A)
and out of Egypt I called My son.(B)
The more they[a] called them,[b](C)
the more they[c] departed from Me.[d]
They kept sacrificing to the Baals(D)
and burning offerings to idols.(E)
It was I who taught Ephraim to walk,(F)
taking them[e] in My arms,(G)
but they never knew that I healed them.(H)
I led them with human cords,
with ropes of love.(I)
To them I was like one
who eases the yoke from their jaws;(J)
I bent down to give them food.(K)
Israel will not return to the land of Egypt
and Assyria will be his king,(L)
because they refused to repent.(M)
A sword will whirl through his cities;(N)
it will destroy and devour the bars of his gates,[f](O)
because of their schemes.(P)
My people are bent on turning from Me.(Q)
Though they call to Him on high,
He will not exalt them at all.

How can I give you up, Ephraim?(R)
How can I surrender you, Israel?
How can I make you like Admah?(S)
How can I treat you like Zeboiim?(T)
I have had a change of heart;
My compassion is stirred!
I will not vent the full fury of My anger;(U)
I will not turn back to destroy Ephraim.(V)
For I am God and not man,
the Holy One among you;(W)
I will not come in rage.[g]
10 They will follow the Lord;(X)
He will roar like a lion.(Y)
When He roars,
His children will come trembling from the west.(Z)
11 They will be roused like birds from Egypt
and like doves(AA) from the land of Assyria.(AB)
Then I will settle them in their homes.(AC)
This is the Lord’s declaration.

12 [h] Ephraim surrounds me with lies,(AD)
the house of Israel, with deceit.
Judah still wanders with God
and is faithful to the holy ones.[i][j]

Footnotes

  1. Hosea 11:2 Perhaps the prophets
  2. Hosea 11:2 = Israel
  3. Hosea 11:2 = Israel
  4. Hosea 11:2 LXX; MT reads them
  5. Hosea 11:3 LXX, Syr, Vg; MT reads him
  6. Hosea 11:6 Or devour his empty talkers, or devour his limbs; Hb obscure
  7. Hosea 11:9 Or come into any city; Hb obscure
  8. Hosea 11:12 Hs 12:1 in Hb
  9. Hosea 11:12 Or to the Holy One; Hb obscure
  10. Hosea 11:12 Possibly angels, or less likely, pagan gods or idols

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