Hosea 11:1-12

English Standard Version

³ Yet it was ^(G)I who taught Ephraim to walk;
    I took them up by their arms,
    but they did not know that ^(H)I healed them.
^4 (I)I led them with cords of kindness,^[a]
    with the bands of love,
and ^(J)I became to them as one who eases the yoke on their jaws,
    and ^(K)I bent down to them and fed them.

^5 (L)They shall not^[b] return to the land of Egypt,
    but ^(M)Assyria shall be their king,
    ^(N)because ^(O)they have refused to return to me.
^6 (P)The sword shall rage against their cities,
    consume the bars of their gates,
    and devour them ^(Q)because of their own counsels.
⁷ My people are bent ^(R)on turning away from me,
    and though ^(S)they call out to the Most High,
    he shall not raise them up at all.

⁸ How can I give you up, O Ephraim?
    How can I hand you over, O Israel?
^(T)How can I make you ^(U)like Admah?
    How can I treat you ^(V)like Zeboiim?
^(W)My heart recoils within me;
    my compassion grows warm and tender.
⁹ I will not execute my burning anger;
    I will not again destroy Ephraim;
^(X)for I am God and not a man,
    ^(Y)the Holy One in your midst,
    and I will not come in wrath.^[c]

^10 (Z)They shall go after the Lord;
    ^(AA)he will roar like a lion;
when he roars,
    his children shall come trembling ^(AB)from the west;
¹¹ they shall come trembling like birds ^(AC)from Egypt,
    and ^(AD)like doves ^(AE)from the land of Assyria,
    and I will return them to their homes, declares the Lord.
^12 [d] Ephraim ^(AF)has surrounded me with lies,
    and the house of Israel with deceit,
but Judah still walks with God
    and is faithful to the Holy One.
12 Ephraim feeds on the wind
    and pursues ^(AG)the east wind all day long;
they multiply ^(AH)falsehood and violence;
    ^(AI)they make a covenant with Assyria,
    and ^(AJ)oil is carried to Egypt.