Hosea 11

God’s Love for a Rebellious Son

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

2 But the more I called them, the more they ran from Me. They kept sacrificing to the Baals and burning incense to idols.

3 It was Me who taught Ephraim how to walk. I took them by the arms, but they did not realize I was the one healing them.

4 I led them with cords of kindness, with ropes of love. I was to them like someone lifting a yoke from their neck, and I bent down to feed them.

Israel Refuses to Return

5 They will not return to Egypt, but Assyria will rule over them, because they refused to come back to Me.

6 The sword will swing through their cities, destroy their defenses, and wipe them out because of their own plans.

7 My people are locked into turning away from Me. Even when they call to the Most High, nobody really lifts Him up.

God’s Compassion Wins

8 How can I give you up, Ephraim, How can I hand you over, Israel, How can I treat you like Admah, How can I make you like Zeboiim, My heart flips inside Me, all My compassion is stirred up.

9 I will not act on My burning anger. I will not wipe out Ephraim again, because I am God and not a man, the Holy One among you. I will not come at you in rage.

10 They will walk after the LORD. He will roar like a lion, and when He roars, His children will come trembling from the west.

11 They will come trembling like birds from Egypt and like doves from Assyria, and I will settle them in their homes, says the LORD.

12 Ephraim surrounds Me with lies, and the house of Israel with deceit. But Judah still walks with God and stays faithful to the Holy One.