Previous Chapter | Next Chapter
v1
When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.
v2
When I called ^[Hebrew “When they called”; the LXX and modern translations read “When I called”] them, they went from my face. ^[Hebrew “their face”] They sacrificed to the Baals, and they sacrificed to idols.
v3
And I myself taught Ephraim to walk; I took them ^[Hebrew uncertain] in my ^[Hebrew “his”] arms, but they did not know that I healed them.
v4
I drew them with human ties, ^[Literally “ropes of a human”] with the bands of love. I was to them like one who lifted up ^[Or “like one who imposed”] a yoke on their jaws, ^[Or “infants to their cheeks”] though I bent down to them ^[Hebrew “him”] and let them ^[Hebrew “him”] eat.
v5
He will return ^[Or “They will not return”] to the land of Egypt, and Assyria will be his king, ^[That is “Israel’s king”] because they refused to return.
v6
The sword rages in his cities; it consumes his false prophets and devours because of their plans.
v7
My people are bent on backsliding from me.
To the Most High they call, he does not raise them at all.
v8
How can I give you up, O Ephraim? How can I hand you over, O Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I treat you like Zeboiim? My heart is disturbed ^[Or “My heart is overturned”] within me; all ^[Literally “together”] my compassions are aroused.
v9
I will not execute ^[Literally “I will not do”] my fierce anger, ^[Literally “the anger of my nose”] I will not again destroy Ephraim; because I am God and not a mortal, ^[Or “human”] the Holy One in your midst; and I will not come in wrath.
v10
They will go after Yahweh;
he roars like a lion. When he roars, his children will come trembling from the sea. ^[That is, “the West”]
v11
They will tremble like birds ^[Hebrew “bird”] from Egypt, and like doves ^[Hebrew “dove”] from the land of Assyria; and I will let them return ^[Hebrew “I will cause them to live”] to their homes— a declaration of Yahweh.
v12
^[Hosea 11:12–12:14 in the English Bible is 12:1–15 in the Hebrew Bible] Ephraim has surrounded me with lies, ^[Hebrew “lie”] and the house of Israel with deceit; and Judah is still wandering with God and is faithful to the Holy One.