Study Desk

When Israel was a youth I loved him, And ^(a)out of Egypt I ^(b)called My son.

The more ^[a](c)they called them, The more they went from ^[b]them; They kept ^(d)sacrificing to the Baals And ^(e)burning incense to idols.

Yet it is I who taught Ephraim to walk, ^[c]I ^(f)took them in My arms; But they did not know that I ^(g)healed them.

I ^(h)led them with cords of a man, with bonds of love, And ⁽ⁱ⁾I became to them as one who lifts the yoke from their jaws; And I bent down and ^(j)fed them.

^[d]They will not return to the land of Egypt; But Assyria—he will be ^[e]their king Because they ^(k)refused to return to Me.

The ^(l)sword will whirl against ^[f]their cities, And will demolish ^[g]their gate bars And ^(m)consume them because of their ⁽ⁿ⁾counsels.

So My people are bent on ^(o)turning from Me. Though ^[h]they call ^[i]them to the One on high, None at all exalts Him.

^(p)How can I give you up, O Ephraim? How can I surrender you, O Israel? How can I ^[j]make you like ^(q)Admah? How can I treat you like ^(r)Zeboiim? My heart is turned over within Me, ^[k]All My compassions are kindled.

I will ^(s)not execute My fierce anger; I will not destroy Ephraim ^(t)again. For ^(u)I am God and not man, the ^(v)Holy One in your midst, And I will not come in ^[l]wrath.

They will ^(w)walk after the Lord , He will ^(x)roar like a lion; Indeed He will roar And His sons will come ^(y)trembling from the west.

They will come trembling like birds from ^(z)Egypt And like ^(aa)doves from the land of ^(ab)Assyria; And I will ^(ac)settle them in their houses, declares the Lord .