5 “Will they not return to Egypt

and will not Assyria rule over them

because they refuse to repent?

6 A sword will flash in their cities;

it will devour their false prophets

and put an end to their plans.

7 My people are determined to turn from me.

Even though they call me God Most High,

I will by no means exalt them.

8 “How can I give you up, Ephraim?

How can I hand you over, Israel?

How can I treat you like Admah?

How can I make you like Zeboyim?

My heart is changed within me;

all my compassion is aroused.

9 I will not carry out my fierce anger,

nor will I devastate Ephraim again.

For I am God, and not a man—

the Holy One among you.

I will not come against their cities.

5 He shall not return into the land of Egypt,

But the Assyrian shall be his king,

Because they refused to return.

6 And the sword shall abide on his cities,

And shall consume his branches, and devour them,

Because of their own counsels.

7 And my people are bent to backsliding from me:

Though they called them to the most High,

None at all would exalt him.

8 How shall I give thee up, Ephraim?

How shall I deliver thee, Israel?

How shall I make thee as Admah?

How shall I set thee as Zeboim?

Mine heart is turned within me,

My repentings are kindled together.

9 I will not execute the fierceness of mine anger,

I will not return to destroy Ephraim:

For I am God, and not man;

The Holy One in the midst of thee:

And I will not enter into the city.

5 “But since my people refuse to return to me,

they will return to Egypt

and will be forced to serve Assyria.

6 War will swirl through their cities;

their enemies will crash through their gates.

They will destroy them,

trapping them in their own evil plans.

7 For my people are determined to desert me.

They call me the Most High,

but they don’t truly honor me.

8 “Oh, how can I give you up, Israel?

How can I let you go?

How can I destroy you like Admah

or demolish you like Zeboiim?

My heart is torn within me,

and my compassion overflows.

9 No, I will not unleash my fierce anger.

I will not completely destroy Israel,

for I am God and not a mere mortal.

I am the Holy One living among you,

and I will not come to destroy.

5 “He shall not return to the land of Egypt;

But the Assyrian shall be his king,

Because they refused to repent.

6 And the sword shall slash in his cities,

Devour his districts,

And consume them,

Because of their own counsels.

7 My people are bent on backsliding from Me.

Though they call to the Most High,

None at all exalt Him.

8 “How can I give you up, Ephraim?

How can I hand you over, Israel?

How can I make you like Admah?

How can I set you like Zeboiim?

My heart churns within Me;

My sympathy is stirred.

9 I will not execute the fierceness of My anger;

I will not again destroy Ephraim.

For I am God, and not man,

The Holy One in your midst;

And I will not come with terror.

5 “The Israelites will become captives again, as they were in Egypt,

and Assyria will become their king,

because they refuse to turn back to God.

6 War will sweep through their cities

and will destroy them

and kill them because of their wicked plans.

7 My people have made up their minds

to turn away from me.

The prophets call them to turn to me,

but none of them honors me at all.

8 “Israel, how can I give you up?

How can I give you away, Israel?

I don’t want to make you like Admah

or treat you like Zeboiim.

My heart beats for you,

and my love for you stirs up my pity.

9 I won’t punish you in my anger,

and I won’t destroy Israel again.

I am God and not a human;

I am the Holy One, and I am among you.

I will not come against you in anger.

5 They shall not return into the land of Egypt; but the Assyrian shall be their king, because they refused to return to me. 6 And the sword shall fall upon their cities, and shall consume their bars, and devour them, because of their own counsels. 7 And my people are bent on backsliding from me: though they call them to him that is on high, none at all will exalt him.

8 How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? how shall I cast thee off, Israel? how shall I make thee as Admah? how shall I set thee as Zeboiim? my heart is turned within me, my compassions are kindled together. 9 I will not execute the fierceness of mine anger, I will not return to destroy Ephraim: for I am God, and not man; the Holy One in the midst of thee; and I will not come in wrath.

5 He shall not return into the land of Egypt, but the Assyrian shall be his king; for they refused to return to me; 6 and the sword shall turn about in his cities, and shall consume his bars, and devour them, because of their own counsels. 7 Yea, my people are bent upon backsliding from me: though they call them to the Most High, none at all exalteth him.

8 How shall I give thee over, Ephraim? how shall I deliver thee up, Israel? how shall I make thee as Admah? how shall I set thee as Zeboim? My heart is turned within me, my repentings are kindled together. 9 I will not execute the fierceness of mine anger, I will not again destroy Ephraim; for I am •God, and not man, —the Holy One in the midst of thee: and I will not come in anger.

5 “They will not return to Egypt. 

Instead, Assyria will rule them 

because they have refused to return to me. 

6 War will sweep through their cities, 

demolish their city gates, 

and put an end to their plans. 

7 My people are determined to turn away from me. 

Even if they call to the Most High, 

he will not pardon them. 

8 “How can I give you up, Ephraim? 

How can I hand you over, Israel? 

How can I make you like Admah? 

How can I treat you like Zeboim? 

I have changed my mind. 

I am deeply moved. 

9 I will not act on my burning anger. 

I will not destroy Ephraim again. 

I am God, not a human. 

I am the Holy One among you, 

and I will not come to you in anger. 

5 Israel will not return to the land of Egypt

and Assyria will be his king,

because they refused to repent.

6 A sword will whirl through his cities;

it will destroy and devour the bars of his gates,

because of their schemes.

7 My people are bent on turning from Me.

Though they call to Him on high,

He will not exalt them at all.

8 How can I give you up, Ephraim?

How can I surrender you, Israel?

How can I make you like Admah?

How can I treat you like Zeboiim?

I have had a change of heart;

My compassion is stirred!

9 I will not vent 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;

I will not come in rage.

5 They shall return to the land of Egypt,

and Assyria shall be their king,

because they have refused to return to me.

6 The sword rages in their cities,

it consumes their oracle-priests,

and devours because of their schemes.

7 My people are bent on turning away from me.

To the Most High they call,

but he does not raise them up at all.

8 How can I give you up, Ephraim?

How can I hand you over, O Israel?

How can I make you like Admah?

How can I treat you like Zeboiim?

My heart recoils within me;

my compassion grows warm and tender.

9 I will not execute my fierce anger;

I will not again destroy Ephraim;

for I am God and no mortal,

the Holy One in your midst,

and I will not come in wrath.

5 He will return to the land of Egypt,

and Assyria will be his king,

because they refused to return.

6 The sword rages in his cities;

it consumes his false prophets

and devours because of their plans.

7 My people are bent on backsliding from me.

To the Most High they call,

he does not raise them at all.

8 How can I give you up, O Ephraim?

How can I hand you over, O Israel?

How can I make you like Admah?

How can I treat you like Zeboiim?

My heart is disturbed within me;

all my compassions are aroused.

9 I will not execute my fierce anger,

I will not again destroy Ephraim;

because I am God

and not a mortal,

the Holy One in your midst;

and I will not come in wrath.

5 “But they refuse to turn away from their sins.

So they will return to Egypt.

And Assyria will rule over them.

6 Swords will flash in their cities.

The heavy metal bars on their gates will be destroyed.

Their plans will come to an end.

7 My people have made up their minds

to turn away from me.

Even if they call out to me,

I will certainly not honor them.

I am the Most High God.”

8 The Lord continues,

“People of Ephraim, how can I give you up?

Israel, how can I hand you over to your enemies?

Can I destroy you as I did the town of Admah?

Can I treat you like Zeboiim?

My heart is stirred inside me.

It is filled with pity for you.

9 My anger will not burn against you anymore.

I will not completely destroy you.

After all, I am God.

I am not a mere man.

I am the Holy One among you.

My burning anger will not come against you.

5 They will not return to the land of Egypt;

But Assyria—he will be their king

Because they refused to return to Me.

6 The sword will whirl against their cities,

And will demolish their gate bars

And consume them because of their counsels.

7 So My people are bent on turning from Me.

Though they call them to the One on high,

None at all exalts Him.

8 How can I give you up, O Ephraim?

How can I surrender you, O Israel?

How can I make you like Admah?

How can I treat you like Zeboiim?

My heart is turned over within Me,

All My compassions are kindled.

9 I will not execute My fierce anger;

I will not destroy Ephraim again.

For I am God and not man, the Holy One in your midst,

And I will not come in wrath.