Hos 11 | HCSB | STEP | When Israel was a child , I loved him, and out of Egypt I called My son .

Hosea 11

The Lord’s Love for Israel

1 When Israel was a child, I loved him, ^a
and out of Egypt I called My son. ^b
2 The more they ^{▼▼Perhaps the prophets} called them, ^{▼▼= Israel
,} ^e
the more they ^{▼▼= Israel} departed from Me. ^{▼▼LXX; MT reads them}
They kept sacrificing to the ^{▼▼Baal: A fertility god who was the main god of the Canaanite religion and the god of rain and thunderstorms; also the Hebrew word meaning "lord," "master," "owner," or "husband"}Baals ⁱ
and burning offerings to idols. ^j
3 It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, ^k
taking them ^{▼▼LXX, Syr, Vg; MT reads him} in My arms, ^m
but they never knew that I healed them. ⁿ
4 I led them with human cords,
with ropes of love. ^o
To them I was like one
who eases the yoke from their jaws; ^p
I bent down to give them food. ^q
5 Israel will not return to the land of Egypt
and Assyria will be his king, ^r
because they refused to repent. ^s
6 A sword will whirl through his cities; ^t
it will destroy and devour the bars of his gates, ^{▼▼Or devour his empty talkers, or devour his limbs; Hb obscure
,} ^v
because of their schemes. ^w
7 My people are bent on turning from Me. ^x
Though they call to Him on high,
He will not exalt them at all.

8 How can I give you up, Ephraim? ^y
How can I surrender you, Israel?
How can I make you like Admah? ^z
How can I treat you like Zeboiim? ^aa
I have had a change of heart;
My compassion is stirred!
9 I will not vent the full fury of My anger; ^ab
I will not turn back to destroy Ephraim. ^ac
For I am God and not man,
the Holy One among you; ^ad
I will not come in rage. ^{▼▼Or come into any city; Hb obscure}
10 They will follow the Lord; ^af
He will roar like a lion. ^ag
When He roars,
His children will come trembling from the west. ^ah
11 They will be roused like birds from Egypt
and like doves ^ai from the land of Assyria. ^aj
Then I will settle them in their homes. ^ak

This is the Lord’s declaration.

12 ^{▼▼Hs 12:1 in Hb} Ephraim surrounds me with lies, ^am
the house of Israel, with deceit.
Judah still wanders with God
and is faithful to the holy ones. ^{▼▼Or to the Holy One; Hb obscure
,} ^{▼▼Possibly angels, or less likely, pagan gods or idols}