CHAPTER 11
1For Israel was a lad and I loved him,
and from Egypt I called to My son.
2They called to them,
yet they went off from them.
To the Baalim they sacrificed,
and to the idols they burned incense.
3Yet I taught Ephraim to walk,
took him by his arms,
but they did not know that I had healed them.
4With human cords I tugged them,
with bonds of love,
and I became to them
like those who lift an infant to their cheeks,
and I bent over them and fed them.
5No! He turned back to the land of Egypt,
and Assyria was his king,
for they refused to come back to Me.
6And the sword shall swoop down on his towns
and destroy his limbs
and devour because of their counsels.
7And My people cling to rebellion against Me.
he does not rise up.
8How can I give you over, Ephraim,
surrender you, Israel?
How can I make you like Admah,
set you like Zeboiim?
My heart churns within me,
My compassion altogether is stirred.
9I will not act in My blazing wrath,
I will no more destroy Ephraim.
For I am God and not a man,
the Holy One in your midst,
and I do not desire to root out.
10After the LORD they shall go,
like a lion He shall roar.
When He roars,
the sons shall hasten from the west.
11They shall hasten like a bird from Egypt,
like a dove from Assyria’s land
and I will settle them in their homes, said the LORD.