1 When Israel was a youth I loved him,
And out of Egypt I called My son.
2 The morea I.e. God’s prophetsthey called them,
The more they went fromb I.e. God’s prophetsthem;
They kept sacrificing to the Baals
And burning incense to idols.
3 Yet it is I who taught Ephraim to walk,
c So ancient versions; Heb He...HisI took them in My arms;
But they did not know that I healed them.
4 I led them with cords of a man, with bonds of love,
And I became to them as one who lifts the yoke from their jaws;
And I bent down and fed them.
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5 d Lit HeThey will not return to the land of Egypt;
But Assyria—he will bee Lit histheir king
Because they refused to return to Me.
6 The sword will whirl againstf Lit histheir cities,
And will demolishg Lit histheir gate bars
And consume them because of their counsels.
7 So My people are bent on turning from Me.
Thoughh I.e. God’s prophetsthey calli Lit him; i.e. Israelthem to the One on high,
None at all exalts Him.
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8 How can I give you up, O Ephraim?
How can I surrender you, O Israel?
How can Ij Lit givemake you like Admah?
How can I treat you like Zeboiim?
My heart is turned over within Me,
k Lit TogetherAll My compassions are kindled.
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