Hosea 11:1–7

¹When Israel was a child, I loved him,

and out of Egypt I called My son.^a

²But the more I called Israel,

the farther they departed from Me.^b

They sacrificed to the Baals

and burned incense to carved images.

³It was I who taught Ephraim^c 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 Egypt

and be ruled by Assyria

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.