1
When Israel was a child, I loved him,
and out of Egypt I called My son.a
2
But the more I called Israel,
the farther they departed from Me.b
They sacrificed to the Baals
and burned incense to carved images.
3
It was I who taught Ephraimc to walk,
taking them by the arms,
but they never realized
that it was I who healed them.
4
I led them with cords of kindness,
with ropes of love;
I lifted the yoke from their necks
and bent down to feed them.
5
Will they not return to the land of Egypt
and be ruled by Assyria
because they refused to repent?
6
A sword will flash through their cities;
it will destroy the bars of their gates
and consume them in their own plans.
7
My people are bent on turning from Me.
Though they call to the Most High,
He will by no means exalt them.