God Yearns over His People
1 When Israel was a youth I loved him, And out of Egypt I called My son.
2 The more they called them, The more they went away from them; They kept sacrificing to the Baals And burning incense to idols.
3 Yet it is I who taught Ephraim to walk, I took them in My arms; But they did not know that I healed them.
4 I pulled them along with cords of a man, with ropes of love, And I became to them as one who lifts the yoke from their jaws; And I bent down and fed them.
5 They will not return to the land of Egypt; But Assyria—he will be their king Because they refused to return to Me.
6 And the sword will whirl against their cities, And will destroy their oracle priests And consume them, because of their counsels.
7 So My people are determined to turn from Me. Though they call them to the One on high, None at all exalts Him.
8 How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I surrender you, Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I treat you like Zeboiim? My heart is turned over within Me, All My compassions are kindled.
9 I will not carry out My fierce anger; I will not destroy Ephraim again. For I am God and not a man, the Holy One in your midst, And I will not come in wrath.
10 They will walk after the Lord, He will roar like a lion; Indeed He will roar, And His sons will come trembling from the west.
11 They will come trembling like birds from Egypt, And like doves from the land of Assyria; And I will settle them in their houses, declares the Lord.
12 Ephraim surrounds Me with lies And the house of Israel with deceit; Judah is still unruly against God, Even against the Holy One who is faithful.