God’s Continuing Love for Israel

11 “When Israel was a child, I loved him,And out of Egypt I called My son.² As they called them,^[a]So they went from them;^[b]They sacrificed to the Baals,And burned incense to carved images.

³ “I taught Ephraim to walk,Taking them by their arms;^[c]But they did not know that I healed them.⁴ I drew them with gentle cords,^[d]With bands of love,And I was to them as those who take the yoke from their neck.^[e]I stooped and fed them.

⁵ “He shall not return to the land of Egypt;But the Assyrian shall be his king,Because they refused to repent.⁶ And the sword shall slash in his cities,Devour his districts,And consume them,Because of their own counsels.⁷ My people are bent on backsliding from Me.Though they call to the Most High,^[f]None at all exalt Him.

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 set you like Zeboiim?My heart churns within Me;My sympathy is stirred.⁹ I will not execute the fierceness of My anger;I will not again destroy Ephraim.For I am God, and not man,The Holy One in your midst;And I will not come with terror.^[g]

¹⁰ “They shall walk after the Lord.He will roar like a lion.When He roars,Then His sons shall come trembling from the west;¹¹ They shall come trembling like a bird from Egypt,Like a dove from the land of Assyria.And I will let them dwell in their houses,”Says the Lord.

God’s Charge Against Ephraim

¹² “Ephraim has encircled Me with lies,And the house of Israel with deceit;But Judah still walks with God,Even with the Holy One^[h] who is faithful.