Hosea 11 — AAB

Out of Egypt I Called My Son

11When Israel was a child, I loved him,and out of Egypt I called My son.⁺²But the more I called Israel,the farther they departed from Me.⁺They sacrificed to the Baalsand burned incense to carved images.³It was I who taught Ephraim⁺to walk,taking them by the arms,but they never realizedthat it was I who healed them.⁴I led them with cords of kindness,with ropes of love;I lifted the yoke from their necksand bent down to feed them.⁵Will they not return to the land of Egyptand be ruled by Assyria
because they refused to repent?⁶A sword will flash through their cities;it will destroy the bars of their gates
and consume them in their own plans.⁷My people are bent on turning from Me.Though they call to the Most High,
He will by no means exalt them.

God’s Love for Israel

⁸How could I give you up, O Ephraim?How could I surrender you, O Israel?How could I make you like Admah?How could I treat you like Zeboiim?My heart is turned within Me;My compassion is stirred!⁹I will not execute the full fury of My anger;I will not destroy Ephraim again.For I am God and not man—the Holy One among you—
and I will not come in wrath.¹⁰They will walk after the LORD;He will roar like a lion.When He roars,His children will come trembling from the west.¹¹They will come trembling like birds from Egyptand like doves from the land of Assyria.Then I will settle them in their homes,declares the LORD.¹²Ephraim surrounds Me with lies,the house of Israel with deceit;but Judah still walks with Godand is faithful to the Holy One.⁺