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Hosea 11

The Lord ’s Love for Israel

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

²But the more I called to him, the farther he moved from me, offering sacrifices to the images of Baal and burning incense to idols.

³I myself taught Israel how to walk, leading him along by the hand. But he doesn’t know or even care that it was I who took care of him.

⁴I led Israel along with my ropes of kindness and love. I lifted the yoke from his neck, and I myself stooped to feed him.

⁵“But since my people refuse to return to me, they will return to Egypt and will be forced to serve Assyria.

⁶War will swirl through their cities; their enemies will crash through their gates. They will destroy them, trapping them in their own evil plans.

⁷For my people are determined to desert me. They call me the Most High, but they don’t truly honor me.

⁸“Oh, how can I give you up, Israel? How can I let you go? How can I destroy you like Admah or demolish you like Zeboiim? My heart is torn within me, and my compassion overflows.

⁹No, I will not unleash my fierce anger. I will not completely destroy Israel, for I am God and not a mere mortal. I am the Holy One living among you, and I will not come to destroy.

¹⁰For someday the people will follow me. I, the Lord, will roar like a lion. And when I roar, my people will return trembling from the west.

¹¹Like a flock of birds, they will come from Egypt. Trembling like doves, they will return from Assyria. And I will bring them home again,” says the Lord.

Charges against Israel and Judah

¹²Israel surrounds me with lies and deceit, but Judah still obeys God and is faithful to the Holy One.

Hosea 11 (NLT)

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Hosea

Chapter 11

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