Hosea 11

11 ¹ When Israel was a child, I loved him and out of Egypt I called my son.

² The more they were called, the more they turned away they kept sacrificing to the Baals and burning incense to carved images. ³ Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them up by their arms but they did not know that I healed them. ⁴ I led them with cords of kindness, with bands of love I was like one who lifts the yoke from their jaws and I bent down to feed them.

⁵ They will not return to the land of Egypt but Assyria will be their king because they refused to return. ⁶ The sword will whirl against their cities, consume the bars of their gates and devour them because of their own schemes. ⁷ My people are bent on turning away from me though they call to the Most High, he will not raise them up at all.

The Father's Heart Cannot Let Go

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 treat you like Zeboiim? My heart recoils within me my compassion grows warm and tender. ⁹ I will not act on my fierce anger I will not again destroy Ephraim. For I am your Father and not a man, the Holy One in your midst and I will not come in wrath. ¹⁰ They will follow our Father he will roar like a lion. When he roars, his children will come trembling from the west. ¹¹ They will come trembling like birds from Egypt, like doves from the land of Assyria and I will settle them in their homes, declares our Father.

¹² Ephraim has surrounded me with lies and the house of Israel with deceit but Judah still walks with our Father and is faithful to the Holy One.