Hosea 11
NET Bible
Chapter overview
God remembers loving Israel as a child, calling the nation from Egypt, teaching it to walk, and drawing it with kindness. Though the people turn toward idols and face conquest, divine compassion recoils from total destruction and promises that trembling children will return home.
Parental LoveRebellionCompassionReturn
1When Israel was a young man, I loved him like a son, and I summoned my son out of Egypt.
2But the more I summoned them, the farther they departed from me. They sacrificed to the Baal idols and burned incense to images.
3Yet it was I who led Ephraim, I took them by the arm; but they did not acknowledge that I had healed them.
4I led them with leather cords, with leather ropes; I lifted the yoke from their neck, and gently fed them.
5They will return to Egypt! Assyria will rule over them because they refuse to repent!
6A sword will flash in their cities, it will destroy the bars of their city gates, and will devour them in their fortresses.
7My people are obsessed with turning away from me; they call to Baal, but he will never exalt them!
8How 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!
9I 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!
10He will roar like a lion, and they will follow the Lord; when he roars, his children will come trembling from the west.
11They 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.
12Ephraim 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.
NET Bible — Custom permission grant (Biblical Studies Press). Where these translations come from.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible® copyright © 1996, 2019 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved. More at netbible.org.