11When Israel was a child, 2I loved him, and out of Egypt I 3called 4my son.
25The more they were called, the more they went away; 6they kept sacrificing to the Baals and burning offerings to idols.
3
Yet it was 7I who taught Ephraim to walk; I took them up by their arms, but they did not know that 8I healed them.
49I led them with cords of kindness,a with the bands of love, and 10I became to them as one who eases the yoke on their jaws, and 11I bent down to them and fed them.
512They shall notb return to the land of Egypt, but 13Assyria shall be their king, 14because 15they have refused to return to me.
616The sword shall rage against their cities, consume the bars of their gates, and devour them 17because of their own counsels.
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My people are bent 18on turning away from me, and though 19they call out to the Most High, he shall not raise them up at all.
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How can I give you up, O Ephraim? How can I hand you over, O Israel? 20How can I make you 21like Admah? How can I treat you 22like Zeboiim? 23My heart recoils within me; my compassion grows warm and tender.
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I will not execute my burning anger; I will not again destroy Ephraim; 24for I am God and not a man, 25the Holy One in your midst, and I will not come in wrath.c
1026They shall go after the LORD; 27he will roar like a lion; when he roars, his children shall come trembling 28from the west;
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they shall come trembling like birds 29from Egypt, and 30like doves 31from the land of Assyria, and I will return them to their homes, declares the LORD.
12d Ephraim 32has surrounded me with lies, and the house of Israel with deceit, but Judah still walks with God and is faithful to the Holy One.