1 When Yisroel was a na'ar (child), I loved him,

and called Beni (My son) out of Mitzrayim.*

2 The more I called them,

the more they went from Me;

they sacrificed unto Ba'alim,

and burned incense to peselim (graven images).

3 Yet it was I who taught Ephrayim to walk,

taking them by their zero'ot;

but they knew not

that it was I who healed them.

4 I drew them with cords of man,

with bands of ahavah;

and I was to them

as they that ease the ol (yoke) on their jaws,

and I bent down to feed them.

5 Will they not return into Eretz Mitzrayim?

And will not the Assyrian be his melech,

because they refused to make teshuvah.

6 And the cherev shall flash in his towns,

and shall destroy his gate bars, and devour them,

because of their own counsels.

7 And Ami are bent to backsliding from Me;

though they called to the Most High,

none at all would exalt Him.

8 How shall I give thee up, Ephrayim?

How shall I hand thee over, Yisroel?

How shall I make thee as Admah?

How shall I make thee as Tzevoyim?

Mine lev is turned within Me,

My relentings are kindled together.

9 I will not execute Mine charon af,

I will not return to destroy Ephrayim;

for El ani, and not ish;

the Kadosh (Holy One) in the midst of thee;

and I will not come in wrath.

10 They shall walk after Hashem;

He shall roar like an aryeh;

when He shall roar,

then the banim shall come trembling from the west.

11 They shall come trembling as a bird out of Mitzrayim,

and as a yonah out of Eretz Assyria;

and I will place them in their batim (houses),

saith Hashem.