Hosea 11:1-7 ▼

1 When Israel was a youth I loved him, And out of Egypt I called My son.

2 The more they called them, The more they went away from them; They kept sacrificing to the Baals And burning incense to idols.

3 Yet it is I who taught Ephraim to walk, I took them in My arms; But they did not know that I healed them.

4 I pulled them along with cords of a man, with ropes of love, And I became to them as one who lifts the yoke from their jaws; And I bent down and fed them.

5 They will not return to the land of Egypt; But Assyria—he will be their king Because they refused to return to Me.

6 And the sword will whirl against their cities, And will destroy their oracle priests And consume them, because of their counsels.

7 So My people are determined to turn from Me. Though they call them to the One on high, None at all exalts Him.