1 “When Israel was a child, I loved him,and I called my son out of Egypt.
2 But when I called the people of Israel,they went away from me.They offered sacrifices to the Baalsand burned incense to the idols.
3 It was I who taught Israel to walk,and I took them by the arms,but they did not understandthat I had healed them.
4 I led them with cords of human kindness,with ropes of love.I lifted the yoke from their neckand bent down and fed them.