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 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 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.

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 The sword will whirl against their cities,
          And will demolish their gate bars
          And consume them because of their counsels.

7 So My people are bent on turning from Me.
          Though they call them to the One on high,
          None at all exalts Him.

8 How can I give you up, O Ephraim?
          How can I surrender you, O 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 execute My fierce anger;
          I will not destroy Ephraim again.
          For I am God and not 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 also unruly against God,
          Even against the Holy One who is faithful.