1 ‘When Israel was a child, I loved him,and out of Egypt I called my son.
2 But the more they were called,the more they went away from me.They sacrificed to the Baalsand they burned incense to images.
3 It was I who taught Ephraim to walk,taking them by the arms;but they did not realiseit was I who healed them.
4 I led them with cords of human kindness,with ties of love.To them I was like one who liftsa little child to the cheek,and I bent down to feed them.
5 ‘Will they not return to Egyptand will not Assyria rule over thembecause they refuse to repent?