Hosea 11:6-8

Contemporary English Version

⁶War will visit their cities,
    and their plans will fail.^[a]
⁷My people are determined
    to reject me for a god
they think is stronger,
    but he can't help.^[b]

⁸^(A) Israel, I can't let you go.
    I can't give you up.
How could I possibly destroy you
as I did the towns of Admah
    and Zeboiim?^[c]
I just can't do it.
My feelings for you
    are much too strong.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

11.6 fail: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 6.
11.7 help: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 7.
11.8 Admah and Zeboiim: When the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, he also destroyed these two towns (see Deuteronomy 29.23).