11
God Yearns over His People
When Israel was a youth I loved him,
And Aout of Egypt I Bcalled My son.
The more 1Athey called them,
The more they went from 1them;
They kept Bsacrificing to the Baals
And Cburning incense to idols.
Yet it is I who taught Ephraim to walk,
1I Atook them in My arms;
But they did not know that I Bhealed them.
I Aled them with cords of a man, with bonds of love,
And BI became to them as one who lifts the yoke from their jaws;
And I bent down and Cfed them.
 
1They will not return to the land of Egypt;
But Assyria—he will be 2their king
Because they Arefused to return to Me.
The Asword will whirl against 1their cities,
And will demolish 1their gate bars
And Bconsume them because of their Ccounsels.
So My people are bent on Aturning from Me.
Though 1they call 2them to the One on high,
None at all exalts Him.
 
AHow can I give you up, O Ephraim?
How can I surrender you, O Israel?
How can I 1make you like BAdmah?
How can I treat you like BZeboiim?
My heart is turned over within Me,
2All My compassions are kindled.
I will Anot execute My fierce anger;
I will not destroy Ephraim Bagain.
For CI am God and not man, the DHoly One in your midst,
And I will not come in 1wrath.
10 They will Awalk after the Lord,
He will Broar like a lion;
Indeed He will roar
And His sons will come Ctrembling from the west.
11 They will come trembling like birds from AEgypt
And like Bdoves from the land of AAssyria;
And I will Csettle them in their houses, declares the Lord.
 
12  1Ephraim surrounds Me with Alies
And the house of Israel with deceit;
Judah is also unruly against God,
Even against the Holy One who is faithful.
A 11:1 Hos 2:15; 12:9, 13; 13:4 B 11:1 Ex 4:22, 23; Matt 2:15 1 11:2 I.e. God’s prophets A 11:2 2 Kin 17:13-15 1 11:2 I.e. God’s prophets B 11:2 Hos 2:13; 4:13 C 11:2 Is 65:7; Jer 18:15 1 11:3 So ancient versions; Heb He...His A 11:3 Deut 1:31; 32:10, 11 B 11:3 Ps 107:20; Jer 30:17 A 11:4 Jer 31:2, 3 B 11:4 Lev 26:13 C 11:4 Ex 16:32; Ps 78:25 1 11:5 Lit He 2 11:5 Lit his A 11:5 Hos 7:16 A 11:6 Hos 13:16 1 11:6 Lit his 1 11:6 Lit his B 11:6 Lam 2:9 C 11:6 Hos 4:16, 17 A 11:7 Jer 3:6, 7; 8:5 1 11:7 I.e. God’s prophets 2 11:7 Lit him; i.e. Israel A 11:8 Hos 6:4; 7:1 1 11:8 Lit give B 11:8 Gen 14:8; Deut 29:23 B 11:8 Gen 14:8; Deut 29:23 2 11:8 Lit Together A 11:9 Deut 13:17 B 11:9 Jer 26:3; 30:11 C 11:9 Num 23:19 D 11:9 Is 5:24; 12:6; 41:14, 16 1 11:9 Lit excitement A 11:10 Hos 3:5; 6:1-3 B 11:10 Is 31:4; Joel 3:16; Amos 1:2 C 11:10 Is 66:2, 5 A 11:11 Is 11:11 B 11:11 Is 60:8; Hos 7:11 A 11:11 Is 11:11 C 11:11 Ezek 28:25, 26; 34:27, 28 1 11:12 Ch 12:1 in Heb A 11:12 Hos 4:2; 7:3