Hosea 11

¹ God talk say, when Israel be pikin, I love him and call him out of Egypt as my son.

² But the more I dey call him, na the more he dey turn away from me. My people sacrifice for Baal; and them burn incense for idols.

³ Yet na me teach Israel how to dey waka. I take my people up for arm, but dem no respect say I take care of them.

⁴ I draw them close to me with affection and love. I pick them up and hold them for my cheek; I bend down for them and I feed them.

⁵ "Dem no gree return to me, so them must return go Egypt, and Assyria go rule them.

⁶ War go wipe through their city and go break down the city gate. E go destroy my people because dem do wetin them think say na the best.

⁷ Them insist to turn away from me. Them go cry out because of the yoke wey dey on them, but no one go commot am from them.

⁸ "How I fit give up, Israel? How I fit abandon una? Shey I fit destroy una as I do for Admah, or treat una as I do Zeboiim? My heart no go allow me do am! My love for una strong.

⁹ I no go use my anger punish una; I no go destroy Israel again. Because I be God and no be human being. I, the holy one, dey with una. I no go come to una in anger.

¹⁰ "My people go follow me when I shout like lion to their enemy. Dem go run to me from west.

¹¹ Dem go come fast from Egypt, like bird, and from Assyria, like dove. I go bring them come their home again. I, the LORD, don talk."

¹² God talk say, "People of Israel don surround me with lie and deceit, and people of Judah still dey rebel against me, the faithful and holy God.