Osee 11

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.