Hosea 11:1-11 - God Will Have Compassion
1 When Israel was a young man, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. 2 But the more I called Israel, the further they went from me. They sacrificed to the Baals and they burned incense to images. 3 It was I who taught Ephraim to walk. I took them in my arms; but they did not realize it was I who healed them. 4 I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love. I lifted the yoke from their neck and bent down to feed them. 5 Will they not return to Egypt and will not Assyria rule over them because they refuse to repent? 6 Swords will flash in their cities, destroy the bars of their gates, and put an end to their plans. 7 My people are determined to turn (apostatize) from me. Even if they call to the Most High, he will by no means exalt them.
8 How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel? How can I treat you like Admah? How can I make you like Zeboiim? My heart is changed within me. All my compassion is aroused. 9 I will not carry out my fierce anger. I will not turn and devastate Ephraim. I am not man. I am God, the Holy One among you. I will not come against my city in wrath. 10 They will follow Jehovah! He will roar like a lion. When he roars, his children will come trembling from the west. 11 They will come trembling like birds from Egypt, like doves from Assyria. I will settle them in their homes, declares Jehovah.