The Lord's Love for Israel
2
5The 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.
4
9I 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.
5
12They shall notb return to the land of Egypt, but 13Assyria shall be their king, 14because 15they have refused to return to me.
6
16The sword shall rage against their cities, consume the bars of their gates, and devour them 17because of their own counsels.
7
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.
8
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.
9
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
10
26They shall go after the LORD; 27he will roar like a lion; when he roars, his children shall come trembling 28from the west;
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.
(English Standard Version - The Holy Bible Online)