Hosea 11 A Personalized Paraphrase

INSERT YOUR NAME IN THE BLANKS, and use whatever gender is appropriate for this to be meaningful to you. 

“When _______ was a child, I loved her,

and out of bondage I called my daughter.

But the more I called her, the farther she went from me.

She sacrificed to idols and burned incense to images.

 

It was I who taught ______ to walk, taking her by the arms,

but she did not realize it was I who healed her.

I led her with cords of human kindness, with ties of love.

To her I was like one who lifts a little child to the cheek and bent down to feed her.

 

Will she now return to bondage and let it rule over her because she refuses to repent?

Her enemies will break down her walls,

will destroy the house she has built for herself

and put an end to her plans.

She is Mine yet she is determined to turn from Me.

Even if she calls to the Most High, He will by no means exalt her.

 

How can I give you up _______?

How could I treat you like those who don’t belong to Me?

 

My heart is changed within Me.

All My compassion is aroused.

I will not carry out My fierce anger, nor will I turn and devastate you;

for I am GOD and not man – the Holy One with you.

I will not come in wrath.

 

You will follow the LORD.

He will roar like a lion.

When He roars, His children will come trembling from bondage.

Like a flock of birds, they will come, fluttering like doves.

 

I will bring you home again and settle you.”

declares the LORD