My Son Called Out
11 “When Israel was a youth I loved him,
and out of Egypt I called My son.[a]
2 They called out to them
but they departed from their presence.
They kept sacrificing to the Baalim
and burning incense up to idols.
3 Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk.
I took them on My arms.
But they never acknowledged
that I had healed them.
4 With human cords I was drawing them,
with bonds of love,
and I became to them as One lifting a yoke from their jaws.
I bent down to them and fed them.
5 He will not return to the land of Egypt,
but the Assyrian will be his king—
because they refused to return.
6 So a sword will fall on his cities,
and destroy and devour his gate bars
because of their own counsels.
7 So My people are bent on turning from Me.
Although they are being called upwards,
none will rise up.
8 “How can I give you up, Ephraim?
How can I surrender you, Israel?
How can I make you like Admah?
How can I set you as Zeboim?
My heart is turning over within Me.
My compassions are kindled.
9 I will not vent My fierce anger.
I will not again destroy Ephraim.
For I am God—not a man—
the Holy One in the midst of you,
and I will not come in fury.”
10 They will walk after Adonai.
He will roar like a lion.
Indeed, He will roar
and the children will come trembling from the west.
11 “They will come trembling
like a bird out of Egypt,
like a dove out of the land of Assyria,
and I will settle them in their houses.”
It is a declaration of Adonai.
Footnotes
- Hosea 11:1 cf. Matt. 2:15.