¹“When Israel was a child , then I loved him ,

and called my son out of Egypt .

²They called to them , so they went from them .

They sacrificed to the Baals ,

and burnt incense to engraved images .

³Yet I taught Ephraim to walk.

I took them by their arms ,

but they didn’t know that I healed them .

⁴I drew them with cords of a man, with ties of love;

and I was to them like those who lift up the yoke on their necks;

and I bent down to him and I fed him .

⁵“They won’t return into the land of Egypt ;

but the Assyrian will be their king ,

because they refused to repent .

⁶The sword will fall on their cities ,

and will destroy the bars of their gates,

and will put an end to their plans.

⁷My people are determined to turn from me .

Though they call to the Most High ,

he certainly won’t exalt them .

⁸“How can I give you up , Ephraim?

How can I hand you over , Israel ?

How can I make you like Admah?

How can I make you like Zeboiim ?

My heart is turned within me ,

my compassion is aroused.

⁹I will not execute the fierceness of my anger .

I will not return to destroy Ephraim,

for I am God , and not man—the Holy One amongst you .

I will not come in wrath .

¹⁰They will walk after the LORD ,

who will roar like a lion;

for he will roar , and the children will come trembling from the west .

¹¹They will come trembling like a bird out of Egypt ,

and like a dove out of the land of Assyria;

and I will settle them in their houses ,” says the LORD .

¹²Ephraim surrounds me with falsehood,

and the house of Israel with deceit.

Judah still strays from God,

and is unfaithful to the Holy One.