Hosea 11

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

² But the more I called to them, the further they went from me; they have offered sacrifice to the Baals and set their offerings smoking before the idols.

³ I myself taught Ephraim to walk, I took them in my arms; yet they have not understood that I was the one looking after them.

⁴ I led them with reins of kindness, with leading-strings of love. I was like someone who lifts an infant close against his cheek; stooping down to him I gave him his food.

⁵ They will have to go back to Egypt, Assyria must be their king, because they have refused to return to me.

⁶ The sword will rage through their towns, wiping out their children, glutting itself inside their fortresses.

⁷ My people are diseased through their disloyalty; they call on Baal, but he does not cure them.

⁸ Ephraim, how could I part with you? Israel, how could I give you up? How could I treat you like Admah, or deal with you like Zeboiim?[*a] My heart recoils from it, my whole being trembles at the thought.

⁹ I will not give rein to my fierce anger, I will not destroy Ephraim again, for I am God, not man: I am the Holy One in your midst and have no wish to destroy.

¹⁰ They will follow behind Yahweh; he will be roaring like a lion-how he will roar!-and his sons will come speeding from the west;

¹¹ they will come speeding from Egypt like a bird, speeding from the land of Assyria like a dove, and I will settle them in their homes-it is Yahweh who speaks.