Hosea 11

‘When Israel was a young boy,

I loved him. I called my son out of Egypt.

₂I called my people, the Israelites,

but they went away from Me.

They sacrificed to the Baals

and gave offerings to the idols.

₃It was I who taught Ephraim to walk.

I carried them in my arms,

but they did not remember

that it was I who healed them.

₄I was good to them, and I loved them.

I carried them like you carry a baby.

I bowed down and gave them food.

₅I did not want them to go back to Egypt,

and I did not want the king of Assyria

to rule over them.

But they did not want to come back to Me.

₆That is why the enemies will kill

the people inside the cities.

The enemies will break open the gates

and kill the advisors of the king.’

‘My people have decided to turn away

from Me and not to serve Me.

They ask an idol to help them,

but he can not pick them up and help them.

₈But I don't want to let you go.

People of Ephraim, people of Israel,

I don't want to give you away.

I don't want to do to you

what I did to the people of Admah.

I don't want to do with you

what I did to the town of Zeboim.

My heart will not let Me do it.

My love for you is too strong.

₉I am angry, but I will not punish

the people of Ephraim

because I am God. I am not a man.

I am the holy God who is with you.

I will not be angry when I come.

₁₀The people will follow the Lord.

He will roar like a lion and his children

will tremble and come to Him.

They will come from the west.

₁₁They will come like birds

from the land of Egypt.

They will come like doves from Assyria.

Yes, I will bring them back to their homes.’

₁₂The people of Israel lied to Me.

Yes, Israel deceived Me,

and Judah has rebelled_against Me.

They do not listen to the faithful and holy God.