Hosea - The Old Testament

¹ When Israel was a child I loved him, and I called my son out of Egypt.

² But the more I called, the further they went away from me; they offered sacrifice to Baal and burnt incense to idols.

³ I myself taught Ephraim to walk, I myself took them by the arm, but they did not know that I was the one caring for them,

⁴ that I was leading them with human ties, with leading-strings of love, that, with them, I was like someone lifting an infant to his cheek, and that I bent down to feed him.

⁵ He will not have to go back to Egypt, Assyria will be his king instead! Since he has refused to come back to me,

⁶ the sword will rage through his cities, destroying the bars of his gates, devouring them because of their plots.

⁷ My people are bent on disregarding me; if they are summoned to come up, not one of them makes a move.

⁸ Ephraim, how could I part with you? Israel, how could I give you up? How could I make you like Admah or treat you like Zeboiim? My heart within me is overwhelmed, fever grips my inmost being.

⁹ I will not give rein to my fierce anger, I will not destroy Ephraim again, for I am God, not man, the Holy One in your midst, and I shall not come to you in anger.

¹⁰ They will follow Yahweh; he will roar like a lion, and when he roars, his children will come fluttering from the west,

¹¹ fluttering like sparrows from Egypt, like pigeons from Assyria, and I shall settle them in their homes -declares Yahweh.