¹ When Israel was a youth I loved him,
And out of Egypt I called My son. ² The more they called them,
The more they went from them;
They kept sacrificing to the Baals
And burning incense to idols. ³ Yet it is I who taught Ephraim to walk,
I took them in My arms;
But they did not know that I healed them. ⁴ I led them with cords of a man, with bonds of love,
And I became to them as one who lifts the yoke from their jaws;
And I bent down and fed them. ⁵ They will not return to the land of Egypt;
But Assyria—he will be their king
Because they refused to return to Me. ⁶ The sword will whirl against their cities,
And will demolish their gate bars
And consume them because of their counsels. ⁷ So My people are bent on turning from Me.
Though they call them to the One on high,
None at all exalts Him. ⁸ How can I give you up, O Ephraim?
How can I surrender you, O Israel?
How can I make you like Admah?
How can I treat you like Zeboiim?
My heart is turned over within Me,
All My compassions are kindled. ⁹ I will not execute My fierce anger;
I will not destroy Ephraim again.
For I am God and not man, the Holy One in your midst,
And I will not come in wrath. ¹⁰ They will walk after the LORD,
He will roar like a lion;
Indeed He will roar
And His sons will come trembling from the west. ¹¹ They will come trembling like birds from Egypt
And like doves from the land of Assyria;
And I will settle them in their houses, declares the LORD. ¹² Ephraim surrounds Me with lies
And the house of Israel with deceit;
Judah is also unruly against God,
Even against the Holy One who is faithful.