1 "When Israel was a child, then I loved him,

and called my son out of Egypt.

2 They called to them, so they went from them.

They sacrificed to the Baals,

and burned incense to engraved images.

3 Yet I taught Ephraim to walk.

I took them by their arms,

but they didn’t know that I healed them.

4 I drew them with cords of a man, with ties of love;

and I was to them like those who lift up the yoke on their necks;

and I bent down to him and I fed him.

5 "They won’t return into the land of Egypt;

but the Assyrian will be their king,

because they refused to repent.

6 The sword will fall on their cities,

and will destroy the bars of their gates,

and will put an end to their plans.

7 My people are determined to turn from me.

Though they call to the Most High,

he certainly won’t exalt them.

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 make you like Zeboiim?

My heart is turned within me,

my compassion is aroused.

9 I will not execute the fierceness of my anger.

I will not return to destroy Ephraim,

for I am God, and not man—the Holy One among you.

I will not come in wrath.

10 They will walk after Yahweh,

who will roar like a lion;

for he will roar, and the children will come trembling from the west.

11 They will come trembling like a bird out of Egypt,

and like a dove out of the land of Assyria;

and I will settle them in their houses," says Yahweh.

12 Ephraim surrounds me with falsehood,

and the house of Israel with deceit.

Judah still strays from God,

and is unfaithful to the Holy One.

1 Toe Israel 'n kind was, het Ek hom liefgehad, en uit Egipte het Ek my seun geroep.

2 Hoe meer die profete hulle geroep het, des te meer het hulle van hulle af weggeloop; hulle het aan die Baäls geoffer en vir die gesnede beelde rook laat opgaan.

3 En Ek self het Efraim leer loop. Hy het hulle op sy arms geneem, maar hulle het nie erken dat Ek hulle genees het nie.

4 Met mensebande, met koorde van liefde het Ek hulle getrek; en Ek was vir hulle soos diegene wat die juk van hulle kakebeen af oplig; en Ek het My na hom neergebuig, Ek het hom voedsel gegee.

5 Hy sal na Egipteland nie terugkeer nie, maar Assur -- die sal sy koning wees; omdat hulle geweier het om hulle te bekeer.

6 En die swaard sal geswaai word in sy stede en sy grendels vernietig en verteer weens hulle planne.

7 Want my volk dwing om van My afvallig te word; en as die profete hom roep na bo, rig hy hom glad nie op nie.

8 Hoe kan Ek jou oorgee, o Efraim, jou prysgee, o Israel? Hoe kan Ek jou maak soos Adma, jou gelykstel met Sebo‹m: my hart is omgekeer in My, tegelykertyd is my medelyde opgewek.

9 Ek sal my toorngloed nie laat geld nie, Ek sal Efraim nie weer te gronde rig nie; want Ek is God en nie 'n mens nie, die Heilige in jou midde. En Ek sal nie kom in grimmigheid nie.

10 Hulle sal agter die HERE aan trek; Hy sal brul soos 'n leeu. Want Hy sal brul, en die kinders sal met siddering van die seekant aankom.

11 Hulle sal sidderende aankom soos 'n voëltjie uit Egipte en soos 'n duif uit die land Assur; en Ek sal hulle laat woon in hulle huise, spreek die HERE.