1
u When Israel was a child, v I loved him,
and out of Egypt I w called x my son.
2
y The more they were called,
the more they went away;
z they kept sacrificing to the Baals
and burning offerings to idols.
3
Yet it was a I who taught Ephraim to walk;
I took them up by their arms,
but they did not know that b I healed them.
4
c I led them with cords of kindness, 1
with the bands of love,
and d I became to them as one who eases the yoke on their jaws,
and e I bent down to them and fed them.
5
f They shall not 2 return to the land of Egypt,
but g Assyria shall be their king,
h because i they have refused to return to me.
6
j The sword shall rage against their cities,
consume the bars of their gates,
and devour them k because of their own counsels.
7
My people are bent l on turning away from me,
and though m they call out to the Most High,
he shall not raise them up at all.
8
How can I give you up, O Ephraim?
How can I hand you over, O Israel?
n How can I make you o like Admah?
How can I treat you o like Zeboiim?
p My heart recoils within me;
my compassion grows warm and tender.
9
I will not execute my burning anger;
I will not again destroy Ephraim;
q for I am God and not a man,
r the Holy One in your midst,
and I will not come in wrath. 3
10
s They shall go after the Lord;
t he will roar like a lion;
when he roars,
his children shall come trembling u from the west;
11
they shall come trembling like birds v from Egypt,
and w like doves x from the land of Assyria,
and I will return them to their homes, declares the Lord.
12
4 Ephraim y has surrounded me with lies,
and the house of Israel with deceit,
but Judah still walks with God
and is faithful to the Holy One.