NETtext - Hosea - 11

11:1  When Israel was a young man, I loved him like a son, and I summoned my son out of Egypt.

11:2  But the more I summoned them, the farther they departed from me. They sacrificed to the Baal idols and burned incense to images.

11:3  Yet it was I who led Ephraim, I took them by the arm; but they did not acknowledge that I had healed them.

11:4  I led them with leather cords, with leather ropes; I lifted the yoke from their neck, and gently fed them.

11:5  They will return to Egypt! Assyria will rule over them because they refuse to repent!

11:6  A sword will flash in their cities, it will destroy the bars of their city gates, and will devour them in their fortresses.

11:7  My people are obsessed with turning away from me; they call to Baal, but he will never exalt them!

11:8  How can I give you up, O Ephraim? How can I surrender you, O Israel? How can I treat you like Admah? How can I make you like Zeboiim? I have had a change of heart! All my tender compassions are aroused!

11:9  I cannot carry out my fierce anger! I cannot totally destroy Ephraim! Because I am God, and not man - the Holy One among you - I will not come in wrath!

11:10  He will roar like a lion, and they will follow the LORD; when he roars, his children will come trembling from the west.

11:11  They will return in fear and trembling like birds from Egypt, like doves from Assyria, and I will settle them in their homes," declares the LORD.

11:12  Ephraim has surrounded me with lies; the house of Israel has surrounded me with deceit. But Judah still roams about with God; he remains faithful to the Holy One.