“How can I give you up,(A) Ephraim?(B)
    How can I hand you over, Israel?
How can I treat you like Admah?
    How can I make you like Zeboyim?(C)
My heart is changed within me;
    all my compassion(D) is aroused.(E)
I will not carry out my fierce anger,(F)
    nor will I devastate(G) Ephraim again.
For I am God, and not a man(H)
    the Holy One(I) among you.
    I will not come against their cities.
10 They will follow the Lord;
    he will roar(J) like a lion.(K)
When he roars,
    his children will come trembling(L) from the west.(M)
11 They will come from Egypt,
    trembling like sparrows,
    from Assyria,(N) fluttering like doves.(O)
I will settle them in their homes,”(P)
    declares the Lord.

Israel’s Sin

12 Ephraim has surrounded me with lies,(Q)
    Israel with deceit.
And Judah is unruly against God,
    even against the faithful(R) Holy One.[a](S)

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Footnotes

  1. Hosea 11:12 In Hebrew texts this verse (11:12) is numbered 12:1.

How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? how shall I deliver thee, Israel? how shall I make thee as Admah? how shall I set thee as Zeboim? mine heart is turned within me, my repentings are kindled together.

I will not execute the fierceness of mine anger, I will not return to destroy Ephraim: for I am God, and not man; the Holy One in the midst of thee: and I will not enter into the city.

10 They shall walk after the Lord: he shall roar like a lion: when he shall roar, then the children shall tremble from the west.

11 They shall tremble as a bird out of Egypt, and as a dove out of the land of Assyria: and I will place them in their houses, saith the Lord.

12 Ephraim compasseth me about with lies, and the house of Israel with deceit: but Judah yet ruleth with God, and is faithful with the saints.

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