Hosea 11:1-11

“I have deeply loved Israel from his very beginning. From Egypt, I called my son. The more the people of Israel were invited to come to me, the more they turned away from me. They sacrificed to the Baal-idols and burned incense to pagan images even though I was the one who taught Israel to walk. I took them up in my arms and carried them, yet they did not acknowledge that I was their healer. I gently pulled them to my heart with the cords of affectionate love. I stooped down to care for them and gently fed them. I showed them the same kind of tender love as one who picks up an infant and holds it to his cheek.” “Israel will return to the land of Egypt, and Assyria will rule over them because they refused to return to me. The whirlwind of war will break down the bars of their gates and ravage their cities in return for all their schemes. My people are bent on turning away from me, and together they call upon Baal, who will not help them at all.” “Ephraim, how could I ever give up on you? Israel, how could I ever let you go? How can I treat you like Admah or deal with you like Zeboiim—cities I destroyed? My heart beats for you, and my compassion rekindles a deep love for you within me. I will certainly not punish you in my burning anger, nor will I turn around and destroy Israel again, for I am God and not a mere human being. I am the Holy One in the midst of you; I will not come to you in my wrath.” “When I, YAHWEH, roar like a lion, my people will march behind me. Yes, I will roar like a lion to gather my own around me! Indeed, when I roar, my children will come trembling from the west. They will return trembling like a bird from Egypt, like a dove from Assyria, and I will settle them in their homes. I, YAHWEH, have spoken.”