¹When Israel was a boy, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.

²They called to them; so they went away from them. To the Baals they sacrifice, and to the idols they make offerings smoke.

³And I myself taught Ephraim to walk, taking them up on his arms; but they did not know that I healed them.

⁴With cords of humankind I drew them, with ropes of love; I was to them like those who lift the yoke off their cheeks, and I bent down to him and fed him.

⁵He will not return to the land of Egypt, but Assyria itself will be his king, for they refused to return.

⁶And a sword will whirl in his cities, and it will finish off his bars and devour them, because of their counsels.

⁷My people are hung up on turning away from me; to a height they call him, but together he does not lift them high.

⁸How 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 has turned over within me; together my compassions have grown warm.

⁹I will not carry out my burning anger; I will not again ruin Ephraim; for I am God and not a man, the holy one in your midst, and I will not come into a city.

¹⁰They will walk after Yahweh; like a lion he will roar. For when he himself roars, children will tremble from the sea.

¹¹They will shudder like a little bird from Egypt, and like a dove from the land of Assyria; and I will make them dwell in their houses, the utterance of Yahweh.

¹²Ephraim has surrounded me with lies, and the house of Israel with deceit; and Judah still roams with God, and is faithful with the holy ones.