As I read Hosea 11:1-9, the meaning is not very clear to me. NOAB Version: When Israel was a child, I loved him, and I called my son out of Egypt. The more I called them, the farther they went from me, they sacrificed to the Baals and offered incense to the idols. Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk, I took them in my arms; but they did not know that I healed them. I led them with cords of human kindness, with bonds of love. For them I was like those who hold children to their cheeks. I leaned over them and fed them. They will return to the land of Egypt, and Assyria will be their king, because they refused to return to me. The sword rages in their cities, it consumes their oracle priests and devours because of their plans. My people are determined to turn away from me. They call on the Most High, but he does not lift them up at all. How can I abandon you, Ephraim? How can I deliver you up, O Israel? How can I make you love Admah? How can I treat you like Zeboim? My heart recedes within me; my compassion becomes warm and tender. I will not execute my fierce anger; I will no longer destroy Ephraim; for I am God and not mortal, the Holy One among you, and I will not come in anger. (Michael Coogan 2010, 1271) I have read several translations and a little more is becoming clear. Although there are slight differences in each translation, I began to understand what these verses from Hosea were trying to say. The first verse of this NOAB passage is When Israel was a child, I loved him and called my son out of Egypt (Michael Coogan 2010, 1271). In the different translations that I have read, this verse has changed very little. In the Good News Bible, he quotes: The Lord said: “When Israel was a child, I loved him and called him... in the middle of a paper... it brought me closer to God. This has made me want to study the Bible even more, and I know it will. If I don't do it for this reason, I know God will forgive me, be there for me, and always love me. Works Cited “The New Oxford Annotated Bible.” Hosea, edited by Michael Coogan, 1271. New York, New York: Oxford University Press, 2010.BibleStudyTools.com." http://www.biblestudytools.com/hosea/passage.aspx?q=hosea 11:1-9 (accessed December 6, 2013). . "Volume 2 DH, pp. 894-899. Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 2009. Foster, Sean. “Hopedale Presbyterian Church.” Stubborn love. http://hopedalechurch.ca/2013/08/stubborn-love/ (accessed December 6, 2013).