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.