1 When Israel was a child, I loved him,
and out of Egypt I called My son.1
1 Cited in Matthew 2:15
Backlinks: [Matthew 2:15]
2 But the more I called Israel,
the farther they departed from Me.1
They sacrificed to the Baals
and burned incense to carved images.
1 LXX; Hebrew The more they called them, the more they went from them.
3 It was I who taught Ephraim1
to walk,
taking them in My arms,
but they never realized
that it was I who healed them.
1 That is, the northern kingdom of Israel; also in verses 8, 9, and 12
4 I led them with cords of kindness,
with ropes of love;
I lifted the yoke from their necks
and bent down to feed them.
5 Will they not return to the land of Egypt
and be ruled by Assyria
because they refused to repent?
6 A sword will flash through their cities;
it will destroy the bars of their gates
and consume them in their own plans.
7 My people are bent on turning from Me.
Though they call to the Most High,
He will by no means exalt them.
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 turn back to destroy Ephraim.
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.1
1 Or and Judah is unruly against God, the faithful Holy One