God’s Continuing Love for Israel
1 “When Israel was a [a]child, I loved him,
And out of Egypt I called My son.
1 “When Israel was a [a]child, I loved him,
And out of Egypt I called My son.
2 [b]As they called them,
So they went [c]from them;
They sacrificed to the Baals,
And burned incense to carved images.
So they went [c]from them;
They sacrificed to the Baals,
And burned incense to carved images.
3 “I taught Ephraim to walk,
Taking them by [d]their arms;
But they did not know that I healed them.
Taking them by [d]their arms;
But they did not know that I healed them.
4 I drew them with [e]gentle cords,
With bands of love,
And I was to them as those who take the yoke from their [f]neck.
I stooped and fed them.
With bands of love,
And I was to them as those who take the yoke from their [f]neck.
I stooped and fed them.
5 “He shall not return to the land of Egypt;
But the Assyrian shall be his king,
Because they refused to repent.
But the Assyrian shall be his king,
Because they refused to repent.
6 And the sword shall slash in his cities,
Devour his districts,
And consume them,
Because of their own counsels.
Devour his districts,
And consume them,
Because of their own counsels.
7 My people are bent on backsliding from Me.
Though [g]they call [h]to the Most High,
None at all exalt Him.
Though [g]they call [h]to the Most High,
None at all exalt Him.
8 “How can I give you up, Ephraim?
How can I hand you over, Israel?
How can I make you like Admah?
How can I set you like Zeboiim?
My heart [i]churns within Me;
My sympathy is stirred.
How can I hand you over, Israel?
How can I make you like Admah?
How can I set you like Zeboiim?
My heart [i]churns within Me;
My sympathy is stirred.
9 I will not execute the fierceness of My anger;
I will not again destroy Ephraim.
For I am God, and not man,
The Holy One in your midst;
And I will not [j]come with terror.
I will not again destroy Ephraim.
For I am God, and not man,
The Holy One in your midst;
And I will not [j]come with terror.
10 “They shall walk after the Lord.
He will roar like a lion.
When He roars,
Then His sons shall come trembling from the west;
He will roar like a lion.
When He roars,
Then His sons shall come trembling from the west;
11 They shall come trembling like a bird from Egypt,
Like a dove from the land of Assyria.
And I will let them dwell in their houses,”
Says the Lord.
Like a dove from the land of Assyria.
And I will let them dwell in their houses,”
Says the Lord.
God’s Charge Against Ephraim
12 “Ephraim has encircled Me with lies,
And the house of Israel with deceit;
But Judah still walks with God,
Even with the [k]Holy One who is faithful.
12 “Ephraim has encircled Me with lies,
And the house of Israel with deceit;
But Judah still walks with God,
Even with the [k]Holy One who is faithful.
Hosea, 11 chapter