Hosea 11

¹When Israel was a child , I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son .

²The more they were called , the more they went away ; they kept sacrificing to the Baals and burning offerings to idols .

³Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk ; I took them up by their arms , but they did not know that I healed them.

⁴I led them with cords of kindness , with the bands of love , and I became to them as one who eases the yoke on their jaws , and I bent down to them and fed them.

⁵They shall not return to the land of Egypt , but Assyria shall be their king , because they have refused to return to me.

⁶The sword shall rage against their cities , consume the bars of their gates , and devour them because of their own counsels .

⁷My people are bent on turning away from me, and though they call out to the Most High , he shall not raise them up at all .

⁸How can I give you up, O Ephraim ? How can I hand you over, O Israel ? How can I make you like Admah ? How can I treat you like Zeboiim ? My heart recoils within me; my compassion grows warm and tender .

⁹I will not execute my burning anger ; I will not again destroy Ephraim ; for I am God and not a man , the Holy One in your midst , and I will not come in wrath .

¹⁰They shall go after the Lord; he will roar like a lion ; when he roars , his children shall come trembling from the west ;

¹¹they shall come trembling like birds from Egypt , and like doves from the land of Assyria , and I will return them to their homes , declares the Lord.

¹²Ephraim has surrounded me with lies , and the house of Israel with deceit , but Judah still walks with God and is faithful to the Holy One.