¹ “When Israel was a child, I loved him,
And out of Egypt I called My son.
² As they called them,
So they went from them;
They sacrificed to the Baals,
And burned incense to carved images.

³ “I taught Ephraim to walk,
Taking them by their arms;
But they did not know that I healed them.
⁴ I drew them with gentle cords,
With bands of love,
And I was to them as those who take the yoke from their neck.
I stooped and fed them.

⁵ “He shall not return to the land of Egypt;
But the Assyrian shall be his king,
Because they refused to repent.
⁶ And the sword shall slash in his cities,
Devour his districts,
And consume them,
Because of their own counsels.
⁷ My people are bent on backsliding from Me.
Though they call to the Most High,
None at all exalt Him.

⁸ “How can I give you up, Ephraim?
How can I hand you over, Israel?
How can I make you like Admah?
How can I set you like Zeboiim?
My heart churns within Me;
My sympathy is stirred.
⁹ I will not execute the fierceness of My anger;
I will not again destroy Ephraim.
For I am God, and not man,
The Holy One in your midst;
And I will not come with terror.

¹⁰ “They shall walk after the Lord.
He will roar like a lion.
When He roars,
Then His sons shall come trembling from the west;
¹¹ They shall come trembling like a bird from Egypt,
Like a dove from the land of Assyria.
And I will let them dwell in their houses,”
Says the Lord.

¹² “Ephraim has encircled Me with lies,
And the house of Israel with deceit;
But Judah still walks with God,
Even with the Holy One who is faithful.