The Lord’s love for his faithless people

11 When Israel was young, then I began to love him,

and out of Egypt I called my son.

2 The more I called them,

the further they went away from me.

They kept sacrificing to Baals

and making offerings to idols.

3 Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk,

taking them up in my arms,

but they did not know that I healed them.

4 With humane cords I ever drew them,

with bands of love.

I was to them as one who lifts up the yoke from off their jaws,

and bending toward them, I gave them food to eat.

5 No! They return to the land of Egypt,

Assyria will be their king,

for they have refused to return to me.

6 Therefore the swords will whirl in their cities,

will devour in their fortresses[fn].

7 For my people are bent in rebellion against me,

even if they call on the Most High he will not raise them[fn].

8 How can I give you up, Ephraim!

Give you over, Israel!

How am I to give you up as Admah!

Make you like Zeboim!

My heart asserts itself,

my sympathies are all aglow.

9 I will not carry into effect the fierceness of my anger,

I will not turn to destroy Ephraim,

for God am I, and not man,

holy in the midst of you,

therefore I will not consume.

10 They will follow after the Lord.

Like a lion he will roar,

and when he roars

his children will come trembling from the west.

11 They will come trembling like the birds from Egypt,

like doves from the land of Assyria.

And I will bring them back to their houses,

– declares the Lord.