Hosea 11

1 “When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called his children.

2 The more I called them, the farther they went from my presence. They sacrificed to the Baals and burned incense to carved images.

3 I bound Ephraim’s feet and lifted him onto my arm, but they did not know that I healed them.

4 When people were being destroyed, I drew them with bonds of my love. I will be to them like a man striking another on the cheeks, yet I will look on him and prevail with him.

5 Ephraim lived in Egypt, and Assyria became his king, because he refused to return.

6 The sword grew weak in his cities and came to an end in his hands, and they will eat the fruit of their own plans.

7 His people cling to their dwelling, but God will be angry over his precious things and will not lift him up.

8 What will I do with you, Ephraim? Will I protect you, Israel? What will I do with you? Will I make you like Adamah and like Zeboiim? My heart turned at once; my change of heart was powerfully stirred.

9 I will not act according to my furious anger. I will not abandon Ephraim to be wiped out, because I am God and not a man, the Holy One within you, and I will not enter a city.”

10 I will follow the Lord. He will cry out like a lion; when he roars, the children of the waters will be stunned.

11 “They will be stunned and fly like a bird from Egypt, like a dove from the land of the Assyrians. I will restore them to their homes,” says the Lord.