| 1When Israel was a young man, I loved him like a son, and I summoned my son out of Egypt. | 1When Israel was a young man, I loved him like a son, and I summoned my son out of Egypt. |
| 2But the more I summoned them, the farther they departed from me. They sacrificed to the Baal idols and burned incense to images. | 2But the more I summoned them, the farther they departed from me. They sacrificed to the Baal idols and burned incense to images. |
| 3Yet it was I who led Ephraim, I took them by the arm; but they did not acknowledge that I had healed them. | 3Yet it was I who led Ephraim, I took them by the arm; but they did not acknowledge that I had healed them. |
| 4I led them with leather cords, with leather ropes; I lifted the yoke from their neck, and gently fed them. | 4I led them with leather cords, with leather ropes; I lifted the yoke from their neck, and gently fed them. |
| 5They will return to Egypt! Assyria will rule over them because they refuse to repent! | 5They will return to Egypt! Assyria will rule over them because they refuse to repent! |
| 6A sword will flash in their cities, it will destroy the bars of their city gates, and will devour them in their fortresses. | 6A sword will flash in their cities, it will destroy the bars of their city gates, and will devour them in their fortresses. |
| 7My people are obsessed with turning away from me; they call to Baal, but he will never exalt them! | 7My people are obsessed with turning away from me; they call to Baal, but he will never exalt them! |
| 8How can I give you up, O Ephraim? How can I surrender you, O Israel? How can I treat you like Admah? How can I make you like Zeboiim? I have had a change of heart! All my tender compassions are aroused! | 8How can I give you up, O Ephraim? How can I surrender you, O Israel? How can I treat you like Admah? How can I make you like Zeboiim? I have had a change of heart! All my tender compassions are aroused! |
| 9I cannot carry out my fierce anger! I cannot totally destroy Ephraim! Because I am God, and not man--the Holy One among you--I will not come in wrath! | 9I cannot carry out my fierce anger! I cannot totally destroy Ephraim! Because I am God, and not man--the Holy One among you--I will not come in wrath! |
| 10He will roar like a lion, and they will follow the LORD; when he roars, his children will come trembling from the west. | 10He will roar like a lion, and they will follow the LORD; when he roars, his children will come trembling from the west. |
| 11They will return in fear and trembling like birds from Egypt, like doves from Assyria, and I will settle them in their homes," declares the LORD. | 11They will return in fear and trembling like birds from Egypt, like doves from Assyria, and I will settle them in their homes," declares the LORD. |
| 12Ephraim has surrounded me with lies; the house of Israel has surrounded me with deceit. But Judah still roams about with God; he remains faithful to the Holy One. | 12Ephraim has surrounded me with lies; the house of Israel has surrounded me with deceit. But Judah still roams about with God; he remains faithful to the Holy One. |
|
    |