² The more I called to them,
    the more they went away from me. ^[1]
    They kept sacrificing to the Baals
    and burning incense to idols.
³ Yet I was the one who taught Ephraim to walk.
    I took them in my arms, ^[2]
    but they did not realize that it was I who healed them.
⁴ I drew them with cords suitable for a man, ^[3] with ropes of love.
    For them I became like someone who lifts a yoke off their neck,
    and I bent down to feed them.

⁵ They will not ^[4] return into the land of Egypt.
    Instead, an Assyrian will be their king,
    because they refused to repent.
⁶ The sword will slash against their cities.
    It will destroy the bars of their gates,
    and it will devour them because of their plans.

⁷ My people are determined to turn away from me.
    Though they call him the Most High, he certainly will not exalt them.

⁸ How can I give you up, Ephraim?
    How can I hand you over, Israel?
    How can I make you like Admah?
    How can I treat you like Zeboiim? ^[5]
    My heart is changed inside me.
    All my compassion is stirred up.
⁹ I will not carry out my burning anger.
    I will not destroy Ephraim again,
    because I am God, and not man, the Holy One among you.
    I will not enter a city. ^[6]
10 They will follow the Lord.
    He will roar like a lion.
    Yes, he will roar, and his children will come trembling from the west.
¹¹ They will come trembling like a bird from Egypt,
    and like a dove from the land of Assyria.
    I will settle them in their houses, declares the Lord.

Hosea 12

¹ Ephraim feeds on wind
and chases the east wind all day.
    He multiplies lies and violence.
    They make a treaty with Assyria,
    and olive oil is carried to Egypt.
² The Lord has a case against Judah.
    He will deal with Jacob according to his ways.
    According to his deeds he will repay him.
³ In the womb Jacob grasped his brother by the heel,
    and when he was a grown man, he struggled with God.
⁴ He wrestled with the Angel and prevailed.
    He wept and sought his favor.
    He found him at Bethel, and there he spoke with him, ^[9]
5 namely, with the Lord, the God of Armies.
    The Lord is the name by which he is to be remembered!
⁶ So return to your God.
    Observe mercy and justice,
    and wait for your God continually.

⁷ A merchant has fraudulent scales in his hand.
    He loves to defraud others.
⁸ Ephraim said, “Surely I have become rich.
    I have secured wealth for myself.
    Among all my possessions no one will find anything that makes me guilty of sin.”

⁹ But I have been the Lord your God from the time you left the land of Egypt.
    I will make you dwell in tents again,
    as in the days of the appointed festival. ^[10]
10 I have spoken to the prophets.
    I have given numerous visions.
    I taught meaningful lessons through the prophets.
¹¹ Since Gilead is wicked,
    it is certain that they are worthless.
    In Gilgal they sacrifice bulls.
    Yes, their altars are like piles of stones in the furrows of a field.
¹² Jacob fled to the territory of Aram.
    Israel worked as a servant to get a wife,
    and for a wife, he took care of sheep.
¹³ By a prophet, the Lord brought Israel out of Egypt,
    and by a prophet he took care of Israel.
¹⁴ Ephraim has provoked bitter anger.
    Therefore his Lord will leave him bloodied by his guilt
    and bring his disgrace back on him.