Hosea 11

11 ¹When Israel bin be small pikin, I love am, and I call my pikin comot from Egypt.

²As dem dey call dem, na so dem dey turn comot; dem continue to dey sacrifice give di Baals and dey burn incense give idol wey dem carve. ³But na me teach Ephraim how to waka, I take dem for dia hand; but dem no know say na me heal dem. ⁴I lead dem with rope of kindness, with band of love; I be like person wey lift di yoke comot from dia jaw, and I bend down to feed dem.

⁵Dem no go return go di land of Egypt, but Assyria go be dia king, because dem refuse to return. ⁶Sword go dey turn against dia cities, chop di bars of dia gate, and swallow dem because of dia own plan. ⁷My people don set dia mind to turn comot from me; even though dem dey call di Most High, e no go lift dem up at all.

⁸How I go take give you up, Ephraim? How I go take hand you over, Israel? How I go take make you be like Admah? How I go take treat you like Zeboiim? My heart dey turn inside me; my tender mercy wey dey pain belle dey warm and soft. ^a a v8 For here, di Papa im own heart turn against di judgment wey im people suppose collect — e no fit bring imself to give up im pikin dem. Na dis love wey dey soft ground and dey run after person be di very centre of who e be. ⁹I no go act on my hot vex; I no go destroy Ephraim again. Because I be your Papa, no be man, di Holy One wey dey among una, and I no go come with anger. ¹⁰Dem go follow our Papa; e go roar like lion. When e roar, im pikin dem go dey shake as dem dey come from di west. ¹¹Dem go dey shake come like bird from Egypt, like dove from di land of Assyria, and I go settle dem for dia house, na so our Papa talk.

¹²Ephraim don surround me with lie, and di house of Israel with deceit; but Judah still dey waka with our Papa, and e dey faithful to di Holy One.