- "When Israel was a child, I loved him, And out of Egypt I called My son.
- As they called them,[1] So they went from them;[2] They sacrificed to the Baals, And burned incense to carved images.
- " I taught Ephraim to walk, Taking them by their arms;[3] But they did not know that I healed them.
- I drew them with gentle cords,[4] With bands of love, And I was to them as those who take the yoke from their neck.[5] I stooped and fed them.
- " He shall not return to the land of Egypt; But the Assyrian shall be his king, Because they refused to repent.
- And the sword shall slash in his cities, Devour his districts, And consume them, Because of their own counsels.
- My people are bent on backsliding from Me. Though they call to the Most High,[6] None at all exalt Him.
- " 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.
- 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.[7]
- " They shall walk after the LORD. He will roar like a lion. When He roars, Then His sons shall come trembling from the west;
- 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.
- " Ephraim has encircled Me with lies, And the house of Israel with deceit; But Judah still walks with God, Even with the Holy One[8]who is faithful.
God's Continuing Love for Israel
God's Charge Against Ephraim
- Following Masoretic Text and Vulgate; Septuagint reads 'Just as I called them; 'Targum interprets as 'I sent prophets to a thousand of them'.
- Following Masoretic Text, Targum, and Vulgate; Septuagint reads 'from My face'.
- Some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate read 'My arms'.
- Literally 'cords of a man '
- Literally' jaws'
- Or 'upward'
- Or 'I will not enter a city'
- Or 'holy ones'