The Lord’s Love for Israel

11 uWhen Israel was a child, vI loved him,

and out of Egypt I wcalled xmy son.

2  yThe more they were called,

the more they went away;

zthey kept sacrificing to the Baals

and burning offerings to idols.

3  Yet it was aI who taught Ephraim to walk;

I took them up by their arms,

but they did not know that bI healed them.

4  cI led them with cords of kindness,1

with the bands of love,

and dI became to them as one who eases the yoke on their jaws,

and eI bent down to them and fed them.

5  fThey shall not2 return to the land of Egypt,

but gAssyria shall be their king,

hbecause ithey have refused to return to me.

6  jThe sword shall rage against their cities,

consume the bars of their gates,

and devour them kbecause of their own counsels.

7  My people are bent lon turning away from me,

and though mthey call out to the Most High,

he shall not raise them up at all.

8  How can I give you up, O Ephraim?

How can I hand you over, O Israel?

nHow can I make you olike Admah?

How can I treat you olike Zeboiim?

pMy heart recoils within me;

my compassion grows warm and tender.

9  I will not execute my burning anger;

I will not again destroy Ephraim;

qfor I am God and not a man,

rthe Holy One in your midst,

and I will not come in wrath.3