1 When Israel was a child, I loved him,

and out of Egypt I called my son.

2 The more Iy called them,

the more they went from me;*

they kept sacrificing to the Baals,

and burning incense to idols.

3 Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk,

I took them up in mya arms;

but they did not know that I healed them.

4 I led them with cords of compassion,b

with the bands of love,

and I became to them as one,

who eases the yoke on their jaws,

and I bent down to them and fed them.