[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 they left me. The Israelites gave sacrifices to the false gods and burned incense to the idols. [3] "But I was the one 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 will not go back to Egypt. The king of Assyria will become their king, because they refused to turn back to God. [6] The sword will swing against their cities and kill their strong men. It will destroy their leaders. [7] "My people expect me to come back. They will call to God above, but he 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 a human. I am the Holy One. I am with you. I will not show my anger. [10] I, the LORD, will roar like a lion, and my children will come and follow me. They 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." This is what the LORD said. [12] "Ephraim surrounded me with false gods. The people of Israel turned against me. But Judah still walks with God and is true to the Holy One. "
