God Will Have Compassion
1 When Israel was a child, I loved him,
and out of Egypt I called my son.
2 When I calledHebrew "When they called"; the LXX and modern translations read "When I called" them, they went from my face.Hebrew "their face"
They sacrificed to the Baals, and they sacrificed to idols.
3 And I myself taught Ephraim to walk;
I took themHebrew uncertain in myHebrew "his" arms,
but they did not know that I healed them.
4 I drew them with human ties,Literally "ropes of a human"
with the bands of love.
I was to them like one who lifted upOr "like one who imposed" a yoke on their jaws,Or "infants to their cheeks"
though I bent down to themHebrew "him" and let themHebrew "him" eat.
5 He will returnOr "They will not return" to the land of Egypt,
and Assyria will be his king,That is "Israel’s king"
because they refused to return.
6 The sword rages in his cities;
it consumes his false prophets
and devours because of their plans.
7 My people are bent on backsliding from me.
To the Most High they call,
he does not raise them at all.
8 How can I give you up, O Ephraim?
How can I hand you over, O Israel?
How can I make you like Admah?
How can I treat you like Zeboiim?
My heart is disturbedOr "My heart is overturned" within me;
allLiterally "together" my compassions are aroused.
9 I will not executeLiterally "I will not do" my fierce anger,Literally "the anger of my nose"
I will not again destroy Ephraim;
because I am God
and not a mortal,Or "human"
the Holy One in your midst;
and I will not come in wrath.
10 They will go after Yahweh;
he roars like a lion.
When he roars,
his children will come trembling
from the sea.That is, "the West"
11 They will tremble like birdsHebrew "bird" from Egypt,
and like dovesHebrew "dove" from the land of Assyria;
and I will let them returnHebrew "I will cause them to live" to their homes—
a declaration of Yahweh.
Israel’s History
12 Hosea 11:12–12:14 in the English Bible is 12:1–15 in the Hebrew Bible Ephraim has surrounded me with lies,Hebrew "lie"
and the house of Israel with deceit;
and Judah is still wandering with God
and is faithful to the Holy One.