UST HOS Chapter 11

11 When the Israelite people were young as a nation, I loved them as a father loves a son,

and I brought them out of Egypt.

2 However, the more I called to the Israelites, the more they ignored me.

Those people kept offering sacrifices to the Baal gods

and burning incense to honor the statues of them.

3 The people of Ephraim were like a small child and I was like the one who taught them to walk.

It was as though I carried them in my arms,

but they did not understand that I was the one who took care of them.

4 I gently guided them, because I loved them.

I was to them like a loving father who lifts his infant to his cheek

and I bent down to feed them.

5 The Israelites will not return to being slaves in the land of Egypt,

but now the king of Assyria will rule over them,

because they refused to worship me any more.

6 Enemies will attack the people in their cities with swords

and will destroy the bars of their gates.

Their enemies will kill them because of their evil plans.

7 My people are determined to no longer worship me.

Though they call out to me, the Most High,

I will certainly not help them.

8 And yet, I cannot bring myself to give you up, Ephraim!

I cannot just let you go, Israel!

I cannot completely destroy you the way I destroyed the cities of Admah and Zeboiim!

I am in anguish deep within me;

I love you much too strongly to do this!

9 Although I am extremely angry, I will not act accordingly;

I will not destroy the people of Ephraim again!

I will do this because I am God, not a human being.

I am the Holy One who lives among you,

and I will not come to destroy you even though I am extremely angry.”

10 Hosea said, “The Israelites will return to Yahweh.

He will call out with a loud, powerful voice,

and when it is he who calls out,

his people will come back, deeply respectful, from the lands around the sea to the west.

11 Others of his people will come from Egypt as timid as a bird,

and others will come from the land of Assyria as docile as a dove.”

I will settle them in their own homes again. This will happen, because I, Yahweh, have declared it.

12 The people of Ephraim have constantly lied to me,

yes, the people of Israel are continually treacherous.

However, the people of Judah still obey God;

they remain faithful to the Holy One.