1“When Israel was a young man I loved him,
and I called my son out of Egypt.

2The more they were called,
the more they went away from me.
They sacrificed to the Baals
and burned incense to idols. ²

3Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk.
It was I who lifted them up by their arms,
but they did not know that I cared for them.

4I led them with cords of humanity,
with bands of love.
I was to them like someone who eased the yoke on their jaws,
and I bent down to them and fed them.

5Will they not return to the land of Egypt?
Will Assyria not rule over them
because they refuse to return to me?

6The sword will fall on their cities
and destroy the bars of their gates;
it will destroy them
because of their own plans.

7My people are determined to turn away from me.
Though they call to the Most High,
no one will help them.

8How can I give you up, Ephraim?
How can I hand you over, Israel?
How can I make you like Admah?
How can I make you like Zeboyim?
My heart has changed within me;
all my compassions have been stirred up.

9I will not execute my fierce anger;
I will not again destroy Ephraim.
For I am God
and not a man;
I am the Holy One among you,
and I will not come in wrath.

10They will follow Yahweh;
and he will roar like a lion.
When he roars,
his children will come trembling from the west.

11They will come trembling like a bird from Egypt,
like a dove from the land of Assyria.
I will make them live in their homes—this is the declaration of Yahweh.

12Ephraim surrounds me with falsehood,
and the house of Israel with deceit.
But Judah is still going about with me, God,
and is faithful to me, the Holy One.”