Hosea 11 — FBV
11Verse 1I loved Israel when he was a child. He's my son I called out of Egypt.Verse 2As they called them, so they went from them:+they sacrificed to the Baals and offered incense to idols.Verse 3I myself taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by the hand,+but they didn't realize I was the one who healed them.+Verse 4I led them along with cords of kindness, with ropes of love. I was the one who eased their burden and bent down to feed them.+Verse 5However, because my people refuse to return to me, they will not return to the land of Egypt+but Assyria shall be their king.Verse 6War+will sweep through their cities, putting an end to their boasting and destroying their plans.Verse 7My people are hanging on to their apostasy from me. They call him “god on high”+but he will not raise them up at all.Verse 8How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I let you go, Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I treat you like Zeboiim?+My heart is breaking; I am full of compassion.Verse 9I will not execute the fierceness of my anger, I will not destroy Ephraim again. For I am God, not a human being. I am the Holy One living among you. I will not enter your cities.+Verse 10The people will follow me, the Lord. He will roar like a lion. When he roars like a lion then his children will come trembling from the west.Verse 11Like a flock of frightened birds they will come from Egypt, like doves they will come from Assyria, and I will bring them back home, declares the Lord.Verse 12Ephraim surrounds me with lies and Israel with deceit, and Judah still wanders with some deity, faithful to some “Holy One.”+