Hosea 11

Holman Christian Standard Bible

The Lord’s Love for Israel

11 When Israel was a child, I loved him,^(A)
and out of Egypt I called My son.^(B)
²The more they^[a] called them,^[b]^(C)
the more they^[c] departed from Me.^[d]
They kept sacrificing to the Baals^(D)
and burning offerings to idols.^(E)
³It was I who taught Ephraim to walk,^(F)
taking them^[e] in My arms,^(G)
but they never knew that I healed them.^(H)
⁴I led them with human cords,
with ropes of love.^(I)
To them I was like one
who eases the yoke from their jaws;^(J)
I bent down to give them food.^(K)
⁵Israel will not return to the land of Egypt
and Assyria will be his king,^(L)
because they refused to repent.^(M)
⁶A sword will whirl through his cities;^(N)
it will destroy and devour the bars of his gates,^[f]^(O)
because of their schemes.^(P)
⁷My people are bent on turning from Me.^(Q)
Though they call to Him on high,
He will not exalt them at all.

⁸How can I give you up, Ephraim?^(R)
How can I surrender you, Israel?
How can I make you like Admah?^(S)
How can I treat you like Zeboiim?^(T)
I have had a change of heart;
My compassion is stirred!
⁹I will not vent the full fury of My anger;^(U)
I will not turn back to destroy Ephraim.^(V)
For I am God and not man,
the Holy One among you;^(W)
I will not come in rage.^[g]
¹⁰They will follow the Lord;^(X)
He will roar like a lion.^(Y)
When He roars,
His children will come trembling from the west.^(Z)
¹¹They will be roused like birds from Egypt
and like doves^(AA) from the land of Assyria.^(AB)
Then I will settle them in their homes.^(AC)
This is the Lord’s declaration.