[1] ˻The Lord said,˼”I loved Israel when he was a child, and I called my son out of Egypt.
[2] But the more I called the Israelites, the more the Israelites left me. The Israelites gave sacrifices to the Baals. They burned incense to the idols.
[3] “But it was I who taught Ephraim to walk! I took the Israelites in my arms! I healed them! But they don’t know that.
[4] I led them with ropes. But they were ropes of love. I was like a person who set them free. I bent down and fed them.
[5] “The Israelites refuse to turn back ˻to God˼. So they will go to Egypt! ˻The king of˼ Assyria will become their king.
[6] The sword will swing against their cities. It will kill their strong men. It will destroy their leaders.
[7] “My people expect me to come back. They will call to God above. But God will not help them.”
[8] “Ephraim, I don’t want to give you up. Israel, I want to protect you. I don’t want to make you like Admah! I don’t want to make you like Zeboiim! I am changing my mind. My love for you is too strong.
[9] I will not let my terrible anger win. I will not destroy Ephraim again. I am God, and not man. I am the Holy One, I am with you. I will not show my anger.
[10] I will roar like a lion. I will roar, and my children will come and follow me. My children will come from the west, shaking with fear.
[11] They will come from Egypt shaking like birds. They will come shaking like doves from the land of Assyria. And I will take them back home.” The Lord said that.
[12] Ephraim surrounded me with false gods. The people of Israel turned against me.˻And they were destroyed!˼ But Judah still walks with El. Judah is true to the holy ones.”