1 When Israel was a youth I loved him,

And out of Egypt I called My son.

2 The more *they called them,

The more they went away from *them;

They kept sacrificing to the Baals

And burning incense to idols.

3 Yet it is I who taught Ephraim to walk,

*I took them in My arms;

But they did not know that I healed them.

4 I pulled them along with cords of a man, with ropes of love,

And I became to them as one who lifts the yoke from their jaws;

And I bent down and fed them.

5 *They will not return to the land of Egypt;

But Assyria—he will be *their king

Because they refused to return to Me.

6 And the sword will whirl against *their cities,

And will destroy *their oracle priests

And consume them, because of their counsels.

7 So My people are determined to turn from Me.

Though *they call *them to the One on high,

None at all exalts Him.

8 How can I give you up, Ephraim?

How can I surrender you, Israel?

How can I *make you like Admah?

How can I treat you like Zeboiim?

My heart is turned over within Me,

*All My compassions are kindled.

9 I will not carry out My fierce anger;

I will not destroy Ephraim again.

For I am God and not a man, the Holy One in your midst,

And I will not come in *wrath.

10 They will walk after the Lord,

He will roar like a lion;

Indeed He will roar,

And His sons will come trembling from the west.

11 They will come trembling like birds from Egypt,

And like doves from the land of Assyria;

And I will settle them in their houses, declares the Lord.

12 *Ephraim surrounds Me with lies

And the house of Israel with deceit;

*Judah is still unruly against God,

Even against the Holy One who is faithful.