Hosea 11
Out of Egypt I Called My Son (Matthew 2:13–15)
1 When Israel was a child, I loved him,
and out of Egypt I called My son.
2 But the more I called Israel,
the farther they departed from Me.
2 They sacrificed to the Baals
and burned incense to carved images.
3 It was I who taught Ephraim to walk,
taking them by the arms,
3 but they never realized
that it was I who healed them.
4 I led them with cords of kindness,
with ropes of love;
4 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
5 because they refused to repent?
6 A sword will flash through their cities;
it will destroy the bars of their gates
6 and consume them in their own plans.
7 My people are bent on turning from Me.
Though they call to the Most High,
7 He will by no means exalt them.
God’s Love for Israel
8 How could I give you up, O Ephraim?
How could I surrender you, O Israel?
8 How could I make you like Admah?
How could I treat you like Zeboiim?
8 My heart is turned within Me;
My compassion is stirred!
9 I will not execute the full fury of My anger;
I will not destroy Ephraim again.
9 For I am God and not man—
the Holy One among you—
9 and I will not come in wrath.
10 They will walk after the LORD;
He will roar like a lion.
10 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.
11 Then I will settle them in their homes,
declares the LORD.
12 Ephraim surrounds Me with lies,
the house of Israel with deceit;
12 but Judah still walks with God
and is faithful to the Holy One.