1 When Israel was a boy, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.
2 They called to them, and they walked away from them; to the Baals they kept sacrificing, and to images they kept burning incense.
3 And I, I taught Ephraim to walk, taking them up in my arms; but they never knew that I was the one healing them.
4 I drew them along with ropes fit for people, with cords of love; I was to them like those who lift the yoke off their jaws, and I bent down to him to feed him.
5 He will not go back to the land of Egypt; Assyria will be his king instead, because they would not turn back.
6 The sword will whirl through his cities, and consume the bars of his gates, and devour them because of their own schemes.
7 My people are bent on turning away from me; though they call them to the Most High, none at all exalts him.
8 How could I give you up, Ephraim, or surrender you, Israel? How could I make you like Admah, or set you like Zeboiim? My heart turns over within me; all my compassion is stirred.
9 I will not carry out my fierce anger; I will not destroy Ephraim again; for God am I, and not a human being, the Holy One in your midst, and I will not come in rage.
10 They will follow the LORD, who roars like a lion; when he roars, children will hurry in trembling from the west.
11 They will come trembling like a bird from Egypt, like a dove from the land of Assyria, and I will settle them in their houses, declares the LORD.
12 Ephraim has hemmed me in with lies, the house of Israel with deceit; and Judah still roams with God, and with the Holy One is faithful.