Oséias 11
Jeg fik Israel kær i hans Ungdom, fra Ægypten kaldte jeg min søn
Jo mer jeg kaldte dem, des mere fjerned de sig fra mig; de ofrer til Baalerne, tænder for Billederne Offerild,
Jeg lærte dog Efraim at gå og tog ham på Armen; de vidste ej, det var mig, der lægte dem.
Jeg drog dem med Menneskesnore, med Kærligheds Reb; jeg var dem som den, der løfter et Åg over Kæben, jeg bøjed mig ned til ham og rakte ham Føde.
Han skal til Ægypten igen, have Assur til Konge, thi omvende sig vil de ikke.
Sværdet skal rase i hans Byer, fortære hans Slåer og hærge i hans Fæstninger.
Hvor kan jeg ofre dig, Efraim, lade dig, Israel, fare, ofre dig ligesom Adma, gøre dig, som Zebojim? Mit Hjerte vender sig i mig, al min Medynk er vakt.
Jeg fuldbyrder ikke min Harmglød, gør ej Efraim til intet igen. Thi Gud er jeg, ikke et Menneske, hellig udi din Midte, med Vredesglød kommer jeg ikke.
HERREN skal de holde sig til, han brøler som Løven, ja brøler, og bævende kommer Sønner fra Havet,
bævende som Fugle fra Ægypten, som Duer fra Assurs Land; jeg fører dem hjem til deres Huse lyder det fra HERREN.
Efraim omgiver mig med løgn, hus med svig, Juda kender ej Gud med Skøger slår han sig sammen.
When Israel {was} a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.
{As} they called them, so they went from them: they sacrificed unto Baalim, and burned incense to graven images.
I taught Ephraim also to go, taking them by their arms; but they knew not that I healed them.
I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love: and I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws, and I laid meat unto them. {take off: Heb. lift up}
He shall not return into the land of Egypt, but the Assyrian shall be his king, because they refused to return.
And the sword shall abide on his cities, and shall consume his branches, and devour {them}, because of their own counsels.
And my people are bent to backsliding from me: though they called them to the most High, none at all would exalt {him}. {none...: Heb. together they exalted not}
How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? {how} shall I deliver thee, Israel? how shall I make thee as Admah? {how} shall I set thee as Zeboim? mine heart is turned within me, my repentings are kindled together.
I will not execute the fierceness of mine anger, I will not return to destroy Ephraim: for I {am} God, and not man; the Holy One in the midst of thee: and I will not enter into the city.
They shall walk after the LORD: he shall roar like a lion: when he shall roar, then the children shall tremble from the west.
They shall tremble as a bird out of Egypt, and as a dove out of the land of Assyria: and I will place them in their houses, saith the LORD.
Ephraim compasseth me about with lies, and the house of Israel with deceit: but Judah yet ruleth with God, and is faithful with the saints. {saints: or, most holy}