Hosea 11
The Lord’s Love for Israel
1“When Israel was a child, I loved him,
and I called my son out of Egypt.
2But the more I called to him,
the farther he moved from me,
Hosea 11:2Hosea 11:2 As in Greek version; Hebrew reads the more they called to him, the farther he moved from them.
offering sacrifices to the images of Baal
and burning incense to idols.
3I myself taught Israel how to walk,
Hosea 11:3Hosea 11:3 Hebrew Ephraim, referring to the northern kingdom of Israel; also in 11:8, 9, 12.
leading him along by the hand.
But he doesn’t know or even care
that it was I who took care of him.
4I led Israel along
with my ropes of kindness and love.
I lifted the yoke from his neck,
and I myself stooped to feed him.
5“But since my people refuse to return to me,
they will return to Egypt
and will be forced to serve Assyria.
6War will swirl through their cities;
their enemies will crash through their gates.
They will destroy them,
trapping them in their own evil plans.
7For my people are determined to desert me.
They call me the Most High,
but they don’t truly honor me.
8“Oh, how can I give you up, Israel?
How can I let you go?
How can I destroy you like Admah
or demolish you like Zeboiim?
My heart is torn within me,
and my compassion overflows.
9No, I will not unleash my fierce anger.
I will not completely destroy Israel,
for I am God and not a mere mortal.
I am the Holy One living among you,
and I will not come to destroy.
10For someday the people will follow me.
I, the Lord, will roar like a lion.
And when I roar,
my people will return trembling from the west.
11Like a flock of birds, they will come from Egypt.
Trembling like doves, they will return from Assyria.
And I will bring them home again,”
says the Lord.
Charges against Israel and Judah
12Israel surrounds me with lies and deceit,
Hosea 11:12Hosea 11:12a Verse 11:12 is numbered 12:1 in Hebrew text.
but Judah still obeys God
and is faithful to the Holy One.
Hosea 11:12Hosea 11:12b Or and Judah is unruly against God, the faithful Holy One. The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Wheaton Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
New Living, NLT, and the New Living Translation logo are registered trademarks of Tyndale House Publishers. www.tyndale.com
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