God Yearns over His People

1 When Israel was a youth I loved him,

And aout of Egypt I bcalled My son.

2 The more 1athey called them,

The more they went from 1them;

They kept bsacrificing to the Baals

And cburning incense to idols.

3 Yet it is I who taught Ephraim to walk,

1I atook them in My arms;

But they did not know that I bhealed them.

4 I aled them with cords of a man, with bonds of love,

And bI became to them as one who lifts the yoke from their jaws;

And I bent down and cfed them.

5 1They will not return to the land of Egypt;

But Assyria—he will be 2their king

Because they arefused to return to Me.

6 The asword will whirl against 1their cities,

And will demolish 1their gate bars

And bconsume them because of their ccounsels.

7 So My people are bent on aturning from Me.

Though 1they call 2them to the One on high,

None at all exalts Him.

8 aHow can I give you up, O Ephraim?

How can I surrender you, O Israel?

How can I 1make you like bAdmah?

How can I treat you like bZeboiim?

My heart is turned over within Me,

2All My compassions are kindled.