Study Desk

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

When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.

The more they called them, The more they went away from them; They kept sacrificing to the Baals And burning incense to idols.

As they called them, so they went from them: they sacrificed unto Baalim, and burned incense to graven images.

Yet it is I who taught Ephraim to walk, I took them in My arms; But they did not know that I healed them.

I taught Ephraim also to go, taking them by their arms; but they knew not that I healed them.

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.

I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love: and I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws, and I laid meat unto them.

They will not return to the land of Egypt; But Assyria—he will be their king Because they refused to return to Me.

He shall not return into the land of Egypt, and the Assyrian shall be his king, because they refused to return.

And the sword will whirl against their cities, And will destroy their oracle priests And consume them, because of their counsels.

And the sword shall abide on his cities, and shall consume his branches, and devour them, because of their own counsels.

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

And my people are bent to backsliding from me: though they called them to the most High, none at all would exalt him.

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.

How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? how shall I deliver thee, Israel? how shall I make thee as Admah? how shall I set thee as Zeboim? mine heart is turned within me, my repentings are kindled together.

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.

I will not execute the fierceness of mine anger, I will not return to destroy Ephraim: for I am God, and not man; the Holy One in the midst of thee: and I will not enter into the city.

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.

They shall walk after the Lord : he shall roar like a lion: when he shall roar, then the children shall tremble from the west.

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.

They shall tremble as a bird out of Egypt, and as a dove out of the land of Assyria: and I will place them in their houses, saith the Lord .

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.

Ephraim compasseth me about with lies, and the house of Israel with deceit: but Judah yet ruleth with God, and is faithful with the saints.