Hosea, 11

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

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

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

2. The more I called them, the more they went from me; they kept sacrificing to the Ba'als, and burning incense to idols.

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,

3. Yet it was I who taught E'phraim to walk, I took them up in my arms; but they did not know that I healed them.

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.

4. I led them with cords of compassion, with the bands of love, and I became to them as one, who eases the yoke on their jaws, and I bent down to them and fed them.

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,

5. They shall return to the land of Egypt, and Assyria shall be their king, because they have refused to return to me.

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

6. The sword shall rage against their cities, consume the bars of their gates, and devour them in their fortresses.

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

7. My people are bent on turning away from me; so they are appointed to the yoke, and none shall remove it.

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.

8. How can I give you up, O E'phraim! How can I hand you over, O Israel! How can I make you like Admah! How can I treat you like Zeboi'im! My heart recoils within me, my compassion grows warm and tender.

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.

9. I will not execute my fierce anger, I will not again destroy E'phraim; for I am God and not man, the Holy One in your midst, and I will not come to destroy.

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

10. They shall go after the LORD, he will roar like a lion; yea, he will roar, and his sons shall come trembling from the west;

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

11. they shall come trembling like birds from Egypt, and like doves from the land of Assyria; and I will return them to their homes, says the LORD.

12.

12. E'phraim has encompassed me with lies, and the house of Israel with deceit; but Judah is still known by God, and is faithful to the Holy One.