Hosea (Douay: Osee) 11

¹ “When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.

² They called to them, so they went from them. They sacrificed to the Baals, and burned incense to engraved images.

³ Yet I taught Ephraim to walk. I took them by their arms, but they didn’t know that I healed them.

⁴ I drew them with cords of a man, with ties of love; and I was to them like those who lift up the yoke on their necks; and I bent down to him and I fed him.

⁵ “They won’t return into the land of Egypt; but the Assyrian will be their king, because they refused to repent.

⁶ The sword will fall on their cities, and will destroy the bars of their gates, and will put an end to their plans.

⁷ My people are determined to turn from me. Though they call to the Most High, he certainly won’t exalt them.

⁸ “How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I make you like Zeboiim? My heart is turned within me, my compassion is aroused.

⁹ I will not execute the fierceness of my anger. I will not return to destroy Ephraim, for I am God, and not man – the Holy One among you. I will not come in wrath.

¹⁰ They will walk after the LORD, who will roar like a lion; for he will roar, and the children will come trembling from the west.

¹¹ They will come trembling like a bird out of Egypt, and like a dove out of the land of Assyria; and I will settle them in their houses,” says the LORD.

¹² Ephraim surrounds me with falsehood, and the house of Israel with deceit. Judah still strays from God, and is unfaithful to the Holy One.

¹ AAs the morning passeth, so hath the king of Israel passed away. Because Israel was a child, and I loved him: and I called my son out of Egypt.

² As they called them, they went away from before their face: they offered victims to Baalim, and sacrificed to idols.

³ And I was like a foster father to Ephraim, I carried them in my arms: and they knew not that I healed them.

⁴ I will draw them with the cords of Adam, with the bands of love: and I will be to them as one that taketh off the yoke on their jaws: and I put his meat to him that he might eat.

⁵ He shall not return into the land of Egypt, but the Assyrian shall be his king: because they would not be converted.

⁶ The sword hath begun in his cities, and it shall consume his chosen men, and shall devour their heads.

⁷ And my people shall long for my return: but a yoke shall be put upon them together, which shall not be taken off.

⁸ How shall I deal with thee, O Ephraim, shall I protect thee, O Israel? how shall I make thee as Adama, shall I set thee as Seboim? my heart is turned within me, my repentance is stirred up.

⁹ I will not execute the fierceness of my wrath: I will not return to destroy Ephraim: because I am God, and not man: the holy one in the midst of thee, and I will not enter into the city.

¹⁰ They shall walk after the Lord, he shall roar as a lion: because he shall roar, and the children of the sea shall fear.

¹¹ And they shall fly away like a bird out of Egypt, and like a dove out of the land of the Assyrians: and I will place them in their own houses, saith the Lord.

¹² Ephraim hath compassed me about with denials, and the house of Israel with deceit: but Juda went down as a witness with God, and is faithful with the saints.