1 When Israel was a young man, I loved him like a son,and I summoned my son out of Egypt.
2 But the more I summoned them,the farther they departed from me.They sacrificed to the Baal idolsand burned incense to images.
3 Yet it was I who led Ephraim,I took them by the arm;but they did not acknowledge that I had healed them.
4 I led them with leather cords,with leather ropes;I lifted the yoke from their neck,and gently fed them.
5 They will return to Egypt!Assyria will rule over them because they refuse to repent!
6 A sword will flash in their cities,it will destroy the bars of their city gates,and will devour them in their fortresses.
7 My people are obsessed with turning away from me;they call to Baal, but he will never exalt them!
8 How can I give you up, O Ephraim?How can I surrender you, O Israel?How can I treat you like Admah?How can I make you like Zeboiim?I have had a change of heart!All my tender compassions are aroused!
9 I cannot carry out my fierce anger!I cannot totally destroy Ephraim!Because I am God, and not man – the Holy One among you – I will not come in wrath!
10 He will roar like a lion, and they will follow the Lord;when he roars, his children will come trembling from the west.
11 They will return in fear and trembling like birds from Egypt,like doves from Assyria,and I will settle them in their homes,” declares the Lord.
12 (12:1) Ephraim has surrounded me with lies;the house of Israel has surrounded me with deceit.But Judah still roams about with God;he remains faithful to the Holy One.