The Lord's Compassion
Hosea 11
The Lord recalls loving Israel as a child and calling him out of Egypt, teaching Ephraim to walk, even though Israel turned away to sacrifice to idols. Though judgment is deserved, the Lord's compassion restrains him from utter destruction, and he promises that the people will be restored to their houses, coming like trembling birds out of Egypt and Assyria.
About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Thomson 1808Septuagint
Brenton 1851Septuagint
Greek · BrentonSeptuagint
KJV 1769Masoretic
JPS 1917Masoretic
1
Thomson(J) WHEN Israel was young I loved him, and I called his children out of Egypt.
BrentonEarly in the morning were they cast off, the king of Israel has been cast off: for Israel is a child, and I loved him, and out of Egypt have I called his children.
GreekὌρθρου ἀπεῤῥίφησαν, ἀπεῤῥίφη βασιλεὺς Ἰσραήλ· ὅτι νήπιος Ἰσραὴλ, καὶ ἐγὼ ἠγάπησα αὐτόν, καὶ ἐξ Αἰγύπτου μετεκάλεσα τὰ τέκνα αὐτοῦ.
KJVWhen Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.
JPSWhen Israel was a child, then I loved him, And out of Egypt I called My son.
2
ThomsonThe more I called them, the more they ran from My presence. They sacrificed to the Baalims, and burned incense to graven images;
BrentonAs I called them, so they departed from my presence: they sacrificed to Baalim, and burnt incense to graven images.
GreekΚαθὼς μετεκάλεσα αὐτούς, οὕτως ἀπῴχοντο ἐκ προσώπου μου· αὐτοὶ τοῖς Βααλεὶμ ἔθυον, καὶ τοῖς γλυπτοῖς ἐθυμίων.
KJVAs they called them, so they went from them: they sacrificed unto Baalim, and burned incense to graven images.
JPSThe more they called them, the more they went from them; They sacrificed unto the Baalim, And offered to graven images.
3
Thomsontherefore I bound Ephraim’s feet. I took him up in My arms. When they did not know that I heal by the destruction of men, I bound them with the cords of My love.
BrentonYet I bound the feet of Ephraim, I took him on my arm; but they knew not that I healed them.
GreekΚαὶ ἐγὼ συνεπόδισα τὸν Ἐφραὶμ, ἀνέλαβον αὐτὸν ἐπὶ τὸν βραχίονά μου, καὶ οὐκ ἔγνωσαν ὅτι ἴαμαι αὐτούς.
KJVI taught Ephraim also to go, taking them by their arms; but they knew not that I healed them.
JPSAnd I, I taught Ephraim to walk, Taking them by their arms; But they knew not that I healed them.
4
Thomson—
BrentonWhen men were destroyed, I drew them with the bands of my love: and I will be to them as a man smiting another on his cheek: and I will have respect to him, I will prevail with him.
GreekἘν διαφθορᾷ ἀνθρώπων ἐξέτεινα αὐτοὺς ἐν δεσμοῖς ἀγαπήσεώς μου, καὶ ἔσομαι αὐτοῖς ὡς ῥαπίζων ἄνθρωπος ἐπὶ τὰς σιαγόνας αὐτοῦ· καὶ ἐπιβλέψομαι πρὸς αὐτόν, δυνήσομαι αὐτῷ.
KJVI drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love: and I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws, and I laid meat unto them.
JPSI drew them with cords of a man, With bands of love; And I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws, And I fed them gently.
5
ThomsonEphraim dwelt in Egypt, though Assur was his king.
BrentonEphraim dwelt in Egypt; and as for the Assyrian, he was his king, because he would not return.
GreekΚατῴκησεν Ἐφραὶμ ἐν Αἰγύπτῳ, καὶ Ἀσσοὺρ αὐτὸς βασιλεὺς αὐτοῦ· ὅτι οὐκ ἠθέλησεν ἐπιστρέψαι,
KJVHe shall not return into the land of Egypt, but the Assyrian shall be his king, because they refused to return.
JPSHe shall not return into the land of Egypt, But the Assyrian shall be his king, Because they refused to return.
6
ThomsonBecause he refused to return, he was weakened in his cities by the sword. And it caused him to rest with his hands; and they shall eat the fruit of their devices.
BrentonAnd in his cities he prevailed not with the sword, and he ceased to war with his hands: and they shall eat of the fruit of their own devices:
Greekκαὶ ἠσθένησεν ἐν ῥομφαίᾳ ἐν ταῖς πόλεσιν αὐτοῦ· καὶ κατέπαυσεν ἐν ταῖς χερσὶν αὐτοῦ, καὶ φάγονται ἐκ τῶν διαβουλίων αὐτῶν,
KJVAnd the sword shall abide on his cities, and shall consume his branches, and devour them, because of their own counsels.
JPSAnd the sword shall fall upon his cities, And shall consume his bars, and devour them, Because of their own counsels.
7
Thomson(p) His people are indeed in imminent danger of being removed from their dwelling, will God be provoked against his honours so as never to exalt him?
Brentonand his people shall cleave fondly to their habitation; but God shall be angry with his precious things, and shall not at all exalt him.
Greekκαὶ ὁ λαὸς αὐτοῦ ἐπικρεμάμενος ἐκ τῆς κατοικίας αὐτοῦ· καὶ ὁ Θεὸς ἐπὶ τὰ τίμια αὐτοῦ θυμωθήσεται, καὶ οὐ μὴ ὑψώσῃ αὐτόν.
KJVAnd my people are bent to backsliding from me: though they called them to the most High, none at all would exalt him.
JPS—
8
Thomson(J) What shall I do with thee, Ephraim? Shall I shield thee, Israel? What must I do with thee? Shall I make thee as Adama and as Seboim? * My heart relenteth for him. My compassion is moved.
BrentonHow shall I deal with thee, Ephraim? how shall I protect thee, Israel? what shall I do with thee? I will make thee as Adama, and as Seboim; my heart is turned at once, my repentance is powerfully excited.
GreekΤί σε διαθῶμαι Ἐφραίμ; ὑπερασπιῶ σου Ἰσραήλ; τί σε διαθῶ; ὡς Ἀδάμα θήσομαί σε, καὶ ὡς Σεβοείμ· μετεστράφη ἡ καρδία μου ἐν τῷ αὐτῷ, συνεταράχθη ἡ μεταμέλειά μου·
KJVHow 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.
JPSHow shall I give thee up, Ephraim? How shall I surrender thee, Israel? How shall I make thee as Admah? How shall I set thee as Zeboim? My heart is turned within Me, My compassions are kindled together.
9
ThomsonI will not act according to the fierceness of Mine indignation, I will not give up Ephraim to utter destruction. For I am God and am not man—The Holy One in the midst of thee.
BrentonI will not act according to the fury of my wrath, I will not abandon Ephraim to be utterly destroyed: for I am God, and not man; the Holy One within thee: and I will not enter into the city.
GreekΟὐ μὴ ποιήσω κατὰ τὴν ὀργὴν τοῦ θυμοῦ μου· οὐ μὴ ἐγκαταλίπω τοῦ ἐξαλειφθῆναι τὸν Ἐφραὶμ· διότι Θεὸς ἐγώ εἰμι, καὶ οὐκ ἄνθρωπος, ἐν σοὶ ἅγιος, καὶ οὐκ εἰσελεύσομαι εἰς πόλιν.
KJVI 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.
JPSI 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 come in fury.
10
Thomson(p) Am I then not to enter a city? Am I to follow the Lord? Will he roar like a lion? And because of his roaring, will the children of waters be affrighted?
BrentonI will go after the Lord: he shall utter his voice as a lion: for he shall roar, and the children of the waters shall be amazed.
GreekὈπίσω Κυρίου πορεύσομαι· ὡς λέων ἐρεύξεται, ὅτι αὐτὸς ὠρύσεται, καὶ ἐκστήσονται τέκνα ὑδάτων.
KJVThey shall walk after the LORD: he shall roar like a lion: when he shall roar, then the children shall tremble from the west.
JPSThey shall walk after the LORD, Who shall roar like a lion; For He shall roar, And the children shall come trembling from the west.
11
Thomson(J) They shall be frighted like a bird out of Egypt, and like a dove out of the land of the Assyrians. And I will bring them back to their own homes, saith the Lord.
BrentonThey shall be amazed and fly as a bird out of Egypt, and as a dove out of the land of the Assyrians: and I will restore them to their houses, saith the Lord.
GreekἘκστήσονται ὡς ὄρνεον ἐξ Αἰγύπτου, καὶ ὡς περιστερὰ ἐκ γῆς Ἀσσυρίων· καὶ ἀποκαταστήσω αὐτοὺς εἰς τοὺς οἴκους αὐτῶν, λέγει Κύριος.
KJVThey 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.
JPSThey shall come trembling as a bird out of Egypt, And as a dove out of the land of Assyria; And I will make them to dwell in their houses, saith the LORD.