Hosea 11:1-11 - God Will Have Compassion

¹ When Israel was a child, I loved him,
and out of Egypt I called My son.
² The more they called them,
the more they departed from Me.
They kept sacrificing to the Baals
and burning offerings to idols.
³ It was I who taught Ephraim to walk,
taking them in My arms,
but they never knew that I healed them.
⁴ I led them with human cords,
with ropes of love.
To them I was like one
who eases the yoke from their jaws;
I bent down to give them food.
⁵ Israel will not return to the land of Egypt
and Assyria will be his king,
because they refused to repent.
⁶ A sword will whirl through his cities;
it will destroy and devour the bars of his gates,
because of their schemes.
⁷ My people are bent on turning from Me.
Though they call to Him on high,
He will not exalt them at all.

⁸ How can I give you up, Ephraim?
How can I surrender you, Israel?
How can I make you like Admah?
How can I treat you like Zeboiim?
I have had a change of heart;
My compassion is stirred!
⁹ I will not vent the full fury of My anger;
I will not turn back to destroy Ephraim.
For I am God and not man,
the Holy One among you;
I will not come in rage.
¹⁰ They will follow the Lord;
He will roar like a lion.
When He roars,
His children will come trembling from the west.
¹¹ They will be roused like birds from Egypt
and like doves from the land of Assyria.
Then I will settle them in their homes.
This is the Lord’s declaration.