Read the Bible

¹ When Israel was a child, I loved him,^(a)
and out of Egypt I called My son.^(b)
2 The more they^[a] called them,^[b](c)
the more they^[c] departed from Me.^[d]
They kept sacrificing to the Baals^(d)
and burning offerings to idols.^(e)
3 It was I who taught Ephraim to walk,^(f)
taking them^[e] in My arms,^(g)
but they never knew that I healed them.^(h)
4 I led them with human cords,
with ropes of love.⁽ⁱ⁾
To them I was like one
who eases the yoke from their jaws;^(j)
I bent down to give them food.^(k)
5 Israel will not return to the land of Egypt
and Assyria will be his king,^(l)
because they refused to repent.^(m)
6 A sword will whirl through his cities;⁽ⁿ⁾
it will destroy and devour the bars of his gates,^[f](o)
because of their schemes.^(p)
7 My people are bent on turning from Me.^(q)
Though they call to Him on high,
He will not exalt them at all.

⁸ How can I give you up, Ephraim?^(r)
How can I surrender you, Israel?
How can I make you like Admah?^(s)
How can I treat you like Zeboiim?^(t)
I have had a change of heart;
My compassion is stirred!
⁹ I will not vent the full fury of My anger;^(u)
I will not turn back to destroy Ephraim.^(v)
For I am God and not man,
the Holy One among you;^(w)
I will not come in rage.^[g]
10 They will follow the Lord;^(x)
He will roar like a lion.^(y)
When He roars,
His children will come trembling from the west.^(z)
11 They will be roused like birds from Egypt
and like doves^(aa) from the land of Assyria.^(ab)
Then I will settle them in their homes.^(ac)
This is the Lord's declaration.

^12 [h] Ephraim surrounds me with lies,^(ad)
the house of Israel, with deceit.
Judah still wanders with God
and is faithful to the holy ones.^[i][j]