God’s Love for Israel

8 How could I give you up, O Ephraim?

How could I surrender you, O Israel?

How could I make you like Admah?

How could I treat you like Zeboiim?

My heart is turned within Me

My compassion is stirred!

9 I will not execute the full fury of My anger;

I will not destroy Ephraim again.

For I am God and not man—

the Holy One among you—

and I will not come in wrath.

10 They will walk after the LORD;

He will roar like a lion.

When He roars,

His children will come trembling from the west.

11 They will come trembling like birds from Egypt

and like doves from the land of Assyria.

Then I will settle them in their homes,

declares the LORD.

12 Ephraim surrounds Me with lies,

the house of Israel with deceit;

but Judah still walks with God

[and is] faithful to the Holy One.[fn]