Hosea 11

God Yearns over His People

1When Israel was a youth I loved him,

And out of Egypt I called My son.

2The more they called them,

The more they went from them;

They kept sacrificing to the Baals

And burning incense to idols.

3Yet it is I who taught Ephraim to walk,

I took them in My arms;

But they did not know that I healed them.

4I led them with cords of a man, with bonds of love,

And I became to them as one who lifts the yoke from their jaws;

And I bent down and fed them.

5They will not return to the land of Egypt;

But Assyria—he will be their king

Because they refused to return to Me.

6The sword will whirl against their cities,

And will demolish their gate bars

And consume them because of their counsels.

7So My people are bent on turning from Me.

Though they call them to the One on high,

None at all exalts Him.

8How can I give you up, O Ephraim?

How can I surrender you, O Israel?

How can I make you like Admah?

How can I treat you like Zeboiim?

My heart is turned over within Me,

All My compassions are kindled.

9I will not execute My fierce anger;

I will not destroy Ephraim again.

For I am God and not man, the Holy One in your midst,

And I will not come in wrath.

10They will walk after the Lord,

He will roar like a lion;

Indeed He will roar

And His sons will come trembling from the west.

11They will come trembling like birds from Egypt

And like doves from the land of Assyria;

And I will settle them in their houses, declares the Lord.

12Ephraim surrounds Me with lies

And the house of Israel with deceit;

Judah is also unruly against God,

Even against the Holy One who is faithful.