NET HOS Chapter 11

◄ HOS 11 ► ║ ═ ©

11  When Israel was a young man, I loved him like a son,

and I summoned my son out of Egypt.

2  But the more I summoned them,

the farther they departed from me.

They sacrificed to the Baal idols

and burned incense to images.

3  Yet it was I who led Ephraim,

I took them by the arm;

but they did not acknowledge

that I had healed them.

4  I led them with leather cords,

with leather ropes;

I lifted the yoke from their neck,

and gently fed them.

5  They will return to Egypt!

Assyria will rule over them

because they refuse to repent!

6  A sword will flash in their cities,

it will destroy the bars of their city gates,

and will devour them in their fortresses.

7  My people are obsessed with turning away from me;

they call to Baal, but he will never exalt them!

The Divine Dilemma: Judgment or Mercy?

8  How can I give you up, O Ephraim?

How can I surrender you, O Israel?

How can I treat you like Admah?

How can I make you like Zeboiim?

I have had a change of heart!

All my tender compassions are aroused!

9  I cannot carry out my fierce anger!

I cannot totally destroy Ephraim!

Because I am God, and not man – the Holy One among you –

I will not come in wrath!

God Will Restore the Exiles to Israel

10  He will roar like a lion,

and they will follow the Lord;

when he roars,

his children will come trembling from the west.

11  They will return in fear and trembling

like birds from Egypt,

like doves from Assyria,

and I will settle them in their homes,” declares the Lord.

God’s Lawsuit against Israel: Breach of Covenant

12  Ephraim has surrounded me with lies;

the house of Israel has surrounded me with deceit.

But Judah still roams about with God;

he remains faithful to the Holy One.

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