| 1 | When Israel was a child, then I loved him and called My son out of Egypt. |
| 2 | The more [the prophets] called to them, the more they went from them; they kept sacrificing to the Baals and burning incense to the graven images. |
| 3 | Yet I taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by their arms
or
taking them up in My arms, but they did not know that I healed them. |
| 4 | I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love, and I was to them as one who lifts up
and
eases the yoke over their cheeks, and I bent down to them
and
gently laid food before them. |
| 5 | They shall not [literally] return into [another bondage in] the land of Egypt, but the Assyrian shall be their king because they refused to return to Me. |
| 6 | And the sword shall rage against
and
fall upon their cities and shall consume the bars of their gates and shall make an end [of their defenses], because of their own counsels
and
devices. |
| 7 | My people are bent on backsliding from Me; though [the prophets] call them to Him Who is on high, none at all will exalt Him
or
lift himself up [to come to Him]. |
| 8 | How can I give you up, O Ephraim! How can I surrender you
and
cast you off, O Israel! How can I make you as Admah
or
how can I treat you as Zeboiim [both destroyed with Sodom]! My heart recoils within Me; My compassions are kindled together. |
| 9 | I will not execute the fierceness of My anger; I will not bring back Ephraim to nothing
or
again destroy him. For I am God and not man, the Holy One in the midst of you, and I will not come in wrath
or
enter into the city. |
| 10 | They shall walk after the Lord, Who will roar like a lion; He Himself will roar and [His] sons shall come trembling
and
eagerly from the west. |
| 11 | They shall come trembling
but
hurriedly like a bird out of Egypt and like a dove out of the land of Assyria, and I will cause them to dwell in their houses, says the Lord. |
| 12 | Ephraim surrounds Me with lies and the house of Israel with deceit, and Judah is not yet steadfast with God, with the faithful Holy One. |
Cross references:
-
Hosea 11:1 : Matt. 2:15.
-
Hosea 11:8 : Deut. 29:23.
|