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1When Israel was a child, I loved him,[#Hos 2.15; 12.9, 13; 13.4; Mt 2.15]
and out of Egypt I called my son.
2The more I called them,[#2 Kings 17.13–15; Isa 65.7; Jer 18.15; Hos 2.13; #11.2 Gk: Heb they]
the more they went from me;
they kept sacrificing to the Baals
and offering incense to idols.
3Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk;[#Deut 1.31; Jer 30.17; Hos 7.15]
I took them up in my arms,
but they did not know that I healed them.
4I led them with cords of human kindness,[#Ex 16.32; Lev 26.13; Ps 78.25; Jer 31.2, 3]
with bands of love.
I was to them like those
who lift infants to their cheeks.
I bent down to them and fed them.
5They shall return to the land of Egypt,[#Hos 7.16; 10.6]
and Assyria shall be their king,
because they have refused to return to me.
6The sword rages in their cities;[#Hos 4.16, 17; 13.16]
it consumes their oracle priests
and devours because of their schemes.
7My people are bent on turning away from me.[#v 2 ; Jer 8.5]
To the Most High they call,
but he does not raise them up at all.
8How can I give you up, Ephraim?[#Gen 14.8; Isa 63.15; Hos 6.4]
How can I hand you over, O Israel?
How can I make you like Admah?
How can I treat you like Zeboiim?
My heart recoils within me;
my compassion grows warm and tender.
9I will not execute my fierce anger;[#Deut 13.17; Isa 41.14, 16; 55.8, 9; Jer 26.3; Mal 3.6]
I will not again destroy Ephraim,
for I am God and no mortal,
the Holy One in your midst,
and I will not come in wrath.
10They shall go after the Lord ,[#Isa 66.2, 5; Hos 6.1–3; Joel 3.16]
who roars like a lion;
when he roars,
his children shall come trembling from the west.
11They shall come trembling like birds from Egypt[#Isa 11.11; 60.8; Ezek 28.25, 26]
and like doves from the land of Assyria,
and I will return them to their homes, says the Lord .
12Ephraim has surrounded me with lies[#Hos 4.2; 7.3; #11.12 12.1 in Heb]
and the house of Israel with deceit,
but Judah still walks with God
and is faithful to the Holy One.