THE LORD’S LOVE FOR ISRAEL

11 When Israel was a child, I loved him,p

and out of Egypt I called my son.q

2 Israel called to the Egyptiansr

even as Israel was leaving them.D

They kept sacrificing to the Baalss

and burning offerings to idols.t

3 It was I who taught Ephraim to walk,u

taking themE by the hand,F,v

but they never knew that I healed them.w

4 I led them with human cords,

with ropes of love.x

To them I was like one

who eases the yoke from their jaws;y

I bent down to give them food.z

5 Israel will not return to the land of Egypt

and Assyria will be his king,aa

because they refused to repent.ab

6 A sword will whirl through his cities;ac

it will destroy and devour the bars of his gates,G,ad

because of their schemes.ae

7 My people are bent on turning from me.af

Though they call to him on high,

he will not exalt them at all.

8 How can I give you up, Ephraim?ag

How can I surrender you, Israel?

How can I make you like Admah?ah

How can I treat you like Zeboiim?ai

I have had a change of heart;

my compassion is stirred!

9 I will not vent the full fury of my anger;aj

I will not turn back to destroy Ephraim.ak

For I am God and not man,

the Holy One among you;al

I will not come in rage.H

10 They will follow the Lord;am

he will roar like a lion.an

When he roars,

his children will come trembling from the west.ao

11 They will be roused like birds from Egypt

and like dovesap from the land of Assyria.aq

Then I will settle them in their homes.ar

This is the Lord’s declaration.