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.
5 “The Israelites will become captives again, as they were in Egypt,and Assyria will become their king,because they refuse to turn back to God.
6 War will sweep through their citiesand will destroy themand kill them because of their wicked plans.
7 My people have made up their mindsto turn away from me.The prophets call them to turn to me,but none of them honors me at all.