¹ “When Israel was a child, then I loved him, ² They called to them, so they went from them. ³ Yet I taught Ephraim to walk. ⁴ I drew them with cords of a man, with ties of love; ⁵ “They won’t return into the land of Egypt; ⁶ The sword will fall on their cities, ⁷ My people are determined to turn from me.
Though they call to the Most High, ⁸ “How can I give you up, Ephraim?
How can I hand you over, Israel?
How can I make you like Admah?
How can I make you like Zeboiim? ⁹ I will not execute the fierceness of my anger. ¹⁰ They will walk after the LORD, ¹¹ They will come trembling like a bird out of Egypt, ¹² Ephraim surrounds me with falsehood,
and the house of Israel with deceit.
Judah still strays from God,
and is unfaithful to the Holy One.