Hosea, 11

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

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

2. The more I called them, the farther they went from me, Sacrificing to the Baals and burning incense to idols.

2. But the more I called, the further they went away from me; they offered sacrifice to Baal and burnt incense to idols.

3. Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk, who took them in my arms;

3. I myself taught Ephraim to walk, I myself took them by the arm, but they did not know that I was the one caring for them,

4. I drew them with human cords, with bands of love; I fostered them like one who raises an infant to his cheeks; Yet, though I stooped to feed my child, they did not know that I was their healer.

4. that I was leading them with human ties, with leading-strings of love, that, with them, I was like someone lifting an infant to his cheek, and that I bent down to feed him.

5. He shall return to the land of Egypt, and Assyria shall be his king;

5. He will not have to go back to Egypt, Assyria will be his king instead! Since he has refused to come back to me,

6. The sword shall begin with his cities and end by consuming his solitudes. Because they refused to repent, their own counsels shall devour them.

6. the sword will rage through his cities, destroying the bars of his gates, devouring them because of their plots.

7. His people are in suspense about returning to him; and God, though in unison they cry out to him, shall not raise them up.

7. My people are bent on disregarding me; if they are summoned to come up, not one of them makes a move.

8. How could I give you up, O Ephraim, or deliver you up, O Israel? How could I treat you as Admah, or make you like Zeboiim? My heart is overwhelmed, my pity is stirred.

8. Ephraim, how could I part with you? Israel, how could I give you up? How could I make you like Admah or treat you like Zeboiim? My heart within me is overwhelmed, fever grips my inmost being.

9. I will not give vent to my blazing anger, I will not destroy Ephraim again; For I am God and not man, the Holy One present among you; I will not let the flames consume you.

9. I will not give rein to my fierce anger, I will not destroy Ephraim again, for I am God, not man, the Holy One in your midst, and I shall not come to you in anger.

10. They shall follow the LORD, who roars like a lion; When he roars, his sons shall come frightened from the west,

10. They will follow Yahweh; he will roar like a lion, and when he roars, his children will come fluttering from the west,

11. Out of Egypt they shall come trembling, like sparrows, from the land of Assyria, like doves; And I will resettle them in their homes, says the LORD.

11. fluttering like sparrows from Egypt, like pigeons from Assyria, and I shall settle them in their homes -declares Yahweh.