Hosea 11:1-11

1 "When Israel was a child, I loved him, And out of Egypt I called My son.
2 As they called them, So they went from them; They sacrificed to the Baals, And burned incense to carved images.
3 "I taught Ephraim to walk, Taking them by their arms; But they did not know that I healed them.
4 I drew them with gentle cords, With bands of love, And I was to them as those who take the yoke from their neck. I stooped and fed them.
5 "He shall not return to the land of Egypt; But the Assyrian shall be his king, Because they refused to repent.
6 And the sword shall slash in his cities, Devour his districts, And consume them, Because of their own counsels.
7 My people are bent on backsliding from Me. Though they call to the Most High, None at all exalt Him.
8 "How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I set you like Zeboiim? My heart churns within Me; My sympathy is stirred.
9 I will not execute the fierceness of My anger; I will not again destroy Ephraim. For I am God, and not man, The Holy One in your midst; And I will not come with terror.
10 "They shall walk after the Lord. He will roar like a lion. When He roars, Then His sons shall come trembling from the west;
11 They shall come trembling like a bird from Egypt, Like a dove from the land of Assyria. And I will let them dwell in their houses," Says the Lord.

Footnotes 7

  • [a]. Following Masoretic Text and Vulgate; Septuagint reads Just as I called them; Targum interprets as I sent prophets to a thousand of them.
  • [b]. Following Masoretic Text, Targum, and Vulgate; Septuagint reads from My face.
  • [c]. Some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate read My arms.
  • [d]. Literally cords of a man
  • [e]. Literally jaws
  • [f]. Or upward
  • [g]. Or I will not enter a city
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.