God’s Love for Israel

¹When Israel was a child, I loved him,

and out of Egypt I called My son.

²As I called them,[#11:2 Gk; Hb they .]

so they went from Me.

They sacrificed to the Baals

and burned incense to idols.

³I taught Ephraim to walk,

taking them up in My arms,

but they did not know

that I healed them.

⁴I drew them with cords of human kindness,[#11:4 Hb cords of a man .]

with bands of love.

I was to them as those who ease the yoke on their neck,

and I bent down and fed them.

⁵He will return to the land of Egypt,[#11:5 So Gk; Hb He not will return .; #Hos 7:16]

and Assyria will be his king,

because they refused to return to Me.

⁶The sword slashes in their cities,[#Hos 10:6; 13:16]

consumes their oracle-priests,

and devours because of their own counsels.

⁷My people are bent on backsliding from Me.[#Jer 8:5]

Though they called to the Most High,

none at all exalt Him.

⁸How can I give you up, Ephraim?

How can I hand you over, Israel?

How can I make you like Admah?

How can I treat you like Zeboyim?

My heart churns within Me;

My compassion is stirred.

⁹I will not execute the fierceness of My anger;

I will not again destroy Ephraim.

For I am God, and not man,

the Holy One in your midst,

and I will not come in wrath.

¹⁰They will walk after the Lord ,

who roars like a lion.

When He roars,

His children will come trembling from the west.

¹¹They will come trembling

like a bird out of Egypt

and like a dove from the land of Assyria.

And I will let them dwell in their houses,

says the Lord .

God’s Charge Against Ephraim

¹²Ephraim 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.