Read the Bible

¹When Israel was a child, I loved him,

and out of Egypt I called my son.

²The more I called them,

the more they went from me;

they kept sacrificing to the Ba'als,

and burning incense to idols.

³Yet it was I who taught E'phraim to walk,

I took them up in my arms;

but they did not know that I healed them.

⁴I led them with cords of compassion,

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.

⁵They shall return to the land of Egypt,

and Assyria shall be their king,

because they have refused to return to me.

⁶The sword shall rage against their cities,

consume the bars of their gates,

and devour them in their fortresses.

⁷My people are bent on turning away from me;

so they are appointed to the yoke,

and none shall remove it.

⁸How can I give you up, O E'phraim!

How can I hand you over, O Israel!

How can I make you like Admah!

How can I treat you like Zeboi'im!

My heart recoils within me,

my compassion grows warm and tender.

⁹I will not execute my fierce anger,

I will not again destroy E'phraim;

for I am God and not man,

the Holy One in your midst,

and I will not come to destroy.

¹⁰They shall go after the LORD,

he will roar like a lion;

yea, he will roar,

and his sons shall come trembling from the west;

¹¹they shall come trembling like birds from Egypt,

and like doves from the land of Assyria;

and I will return them to their homes, says the LORD.

¹²E'phraim has encompassed me with lies,

and the house of Israel with deceit;

but Judah is still known by God,

and is faithful to the Holy One.