Hosea 11:7-9

The Voice

⁷ My people are determined to turn away from Me.

Even when they call out to the Most High, He won’t rescue them.

⁸Eternal One: But how can I give you up, Ephraim?
How can I turn you over to your enemies, Israel?
How can I give you away as I did Admah or treat you like Zeboiim?

The four cities of the plain—Admah, Zeboiim, Sodom, and Gomorrah—were all destroyed (Genesis 14).

    My heart is changed within Me,
        and all at once My compassion is stirred up.
⁹    I will not carry out My burning anger;
        I will not destroy Ephraim completely.
    For I am God, not a human being; I am the Holy One in your midst;
        I won’t unleash My anger for an attack.