God’s Continuing Love for Israel

¹ “When Israel was a child, I loved him,
And out of Egypt I called My son.
² As they called them,^[a]
So they went from them;^[b]
They sacrificed to the Baals,
And burned incense to carved images.
³ “ I taught Ephraim to walk,
Taking them by their arms;^[c]
But they did not know that I healed them.
⁴ I drew them with gentle cords,^[d]
With bands of love,
And I was to them as those who take the yoke from their neck.^[e]
I stooped and fed them.
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,^[f]
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.^[g]
10 “ They shall walk after the LORD.
He will roar like a lion.
When He roars,
Then His sons shall come trembling from the west;
¹¹ They shall come trembling like a bird from Egypt,
Like a dove from the land of Assyria.
And I will let them dwell in their houses,”
Says the LORD.

God’s Charge Against Ephraim

¹² “ Ephraim has encircled Me with lies,
And the house of Israel with deceit;
But Judah still walks with God,
Even with the Holy One^[h]who is faithful.