Hosea

¹ When Israel was a child, I loved him,

and out of Egypt I called My son. ^[a]

² But the more I called Israel,

the farther they departed from Me. ^[b]

They sacrificed to the Baals

and burned incense to carved images.

³ It was I who taught Ephraim ^[c] to walk,

taking them in My arms,

but they never realized

that it was I who healed them.

⁴ I led them with cords of kindness,

with ropes of love;

I lifted the yoke from their necks

and bent down to feed them.

⁵ Will they not return to the land of Egypt

and be ruled by Assyria

because they refused to repent?

⁶ A sword will flash through their cities;

it will destroy the bars of their gates

and consume them in their own plans.

⁷ My people are bent on turning from Me.

Though they call to the Most High,

He will by no means exalt them.

⁸ How could I give you up, O Ephraim?

How could I surrender you, O Israel?

How could I make you like Admah?

How could I treat you like Zeboiim?

My heart is turned within Me;

My compassion is stirred!

⁹ I will not execute the full fury of My anger;

I will not turn back to destroy Ephraim.

For I am God and not man—

the Holy One among you—

and I will not come in wrath.

¹⁰ They will walk after the LORD;

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

and like doves from the land of Assyria.

Then I will settle them in their homes,

declares the LORD.

¹² Ephraim surrounds Me with lies,

the house of Israel with deceit;

but Judah still walks with God

and is faithful to the Holy One. ^[d]