Hosea 11
Open in the reader1When Strives-with-God was a child, I loved him, and out of Two-Straits I called My son.
2But the more I called Strives-with-God, the farther they departed from Me. They sacrificed to The-Ruler and burned incense to carved images.
3It was I who taught Double-Fruit to walk, taking them by the arms, but they never realized that it was I who healed them.
4I led them with cords of kindness, with ropes of love; I lifted the yoke from their necks and bent down to feed them.
5Will they not return to the land of Two-Straits and be ruled by Successful because they refused to repent?
6A sword will flash through their cities; it will destroy the bars of their gates and consume them in their own plans.
7My people are bent on turning from Me. Though they call to the Most High, He will by no means exalt them.
8How could I give you up, O Double-Fruit? How could I surrender you, O Strives-with-God? How could I make you like Red-Earth? How could I treat you like Gazelles? My heart is turned within Me; My compassion is stirred!
9I will not execute the full fury of My anger; I will not destroy Double-Fruit again. For I am God and not man— the Devoted One among you— and I will not come in wrath.
10They will walk after He-Who-Is; He will roar like a lion. When He roars, His children will come trembling from the west.
11They will come trembling like birds from Two-Straits and like doves from the land of Successful. Then I will settle them in their homes, declares He-Who-Is.